Abstract: A mesh element having a mesh gauge selected to control flow of materials therethrough. The mesh element is implantable into an anatomical structure upstream of a body passage or within a body passage to control flow of materials through the body passage. The mesh element may be coupled to a support structure to facilitate anchoring of the mesh element in place relative to the body passage. The support structure may have a lumen defined therethrough to allow flow of materials through the body passage, with the mesh element regulating the flow of materials into the lumen. The mesh element alternatively may be directly coupled to an anatomical structure upstream of a body passage to regulate or determine flow of materials through the body passage.

Abstract: A fiber optics based locator system having a fiber optics portion configured to be advanced directly through a tortuous body passage of a patient without being advanced through the lumen of an independently formed delivery device. A light-emitting element, such as a diffuser, may be provided at the distal end of the system. The fiber optics are selected to transmit light to the light-emitting element capable of being detected through body tissue. For instance, the light-emitting element may be positioned within a first location within a patient, and may be sensed by a sensor positioned within a second location within a patient spaced apart from (e.g., within a different anatomical structure than) the first location. Various procedures may be performed by accessing a target site at or adjacent the first location from a position at or adjacent the second location.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for enhanced navigation and visualization of body passages. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure provide enhanced navigation through the pulmonary peripheries, and enhanced visualization within larger pulmonary passages.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus, devices, and methods for increasing force distribution at a suture-tissue interface. In some embodiments, a tissue suturing device may include a deployment device and a plurality of tissue supports deployable from the deployment device towards a target tissue. The plurality of tissue supports may each include a central opening for receiving a suture during deployment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue dissection. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to medical devices that lift and retract tissue during a dissection procedure to improve visualization of the target tissue and mitigate obstructions for dissection tools. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices that transition from a constrained to an unconstrained bowed configuration to immobilize and retract the dissected portion of target tissue during a dissection procedure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue dissection. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to medical devices that lift and retract tissue during a dissection procedure to improve visualization of the target tissue and mitigate obstructions for dissection tools. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices that transition from a constrained to an unconstrained bowed configuration to immobilize and retract the dissected portion of target tissue during a dissection procedure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus, devices, and methods for increasing force distribution at a suture-tissue interface. In some embodiments, a tissue suturing device may include a deployment device and a plurality of tissue supports deployable from the deployment device towards a target tissue. The plurality of tissue supports may each include a central opening for receiving a suture during deployment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue dissection. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to medical devices that lift and retract tissue during a dissection procedure to improve visualization of the target tissue and mitigate obstructions for dissection tools. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices that transition from a constrained to an unconstrained bowed configuration to immobilize and retract the dissected portion of target tissue during a dissection procedure.

Abstract: Medical devices for applying a cinch to one or more suture and cutting the suture, and methods for making and using such devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an elongated shaft, a connection sleeve, a cinch sleeve coupled to the connection sleeve, and a cinch member. An elongated inner shaft may extend through and be longitudinally movable within the elongated shaft, connection sleeve, cinch sleeve, and cinch member.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods facilitating navigation through a body passage, particularly a tortuous body passage. An expandable member is mounted with respect to an element of the device or system and is shiftable from a delivery configuration to an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, the expandable member facilitates navigation of the device and/or system through a tortuous section of the body passage. The expandable member may include an expandable basket-like element formed of one or more elements shiftable from a generally elongated configuration when the expandable member is in the delivery configuration to a curved or bowed configuration when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration. Additionally or alternatively, the expandable member may include an inflatable balloon. The system and method may include delivering a device such as a locator element to a target site to be identified from a remote location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and systems for attaching an articulation section. In an embodiment, a medical instrument includes a first tubular member including a first end. The medical instrument also includes a second tubular member including a first end. The second tubular member includes a plurality of layers including an inner layer and a first layer including a fluorinated material. The inner layer includes a first section disposed under the first layer and a second section extending out from under the first layer. A portion of the first tubular member overlaps and is bonded to at least a portion of the second section of the inner layer of the second tubular member.

Abstract: A locator system having a flexible elongate delivery device, such as a flexible guidewire, advanced to a target site separately from the beacon element of the system. The beacon element may be configured to not extend beyond the perimeter of a housing on which the beacon element is mounted, thereby reducing the overall cross-sectional profile of the beacon portion of the system. The beacon element may be mounted with respect to the housing to be imaged in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the system. The beacon element may include one or more LED's or other element imageable from a location separate from the target site.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, systems, and methods for tissue resection in a body lumen of a patient, and may include an endoscope and a backstop delivery device extendable through the endoscope. The backstop delivery device may deliver a backstop to a location of selected tissue for resection. A backstop may include a covering being deployable in a patient. The covering may have one or more anchoring mechanisms disposed on an edge of the covering. A tissue resecting device may be extendable through the endoscope for resecting the selected tissue for resection. The covering may be deployable to an outer surface of the body lumen, such that the anchoring mechanism may secure the covering to the outer surface of the body lumen and the covering may expand to cover the selected tissue for resection.

Abstract: An implantable device configured to withstand forces imparted thereto by anatomical structure at a deployment site. The implantable device includes an outer portion and inner portion. The outer portion is positioned between the inner portion and the walls of the anatomical deployment site. The outer portion may enclose the inner portion. The outer portion may be a compliant balloon compressible in response to radially-inwardly directed anatomical forces exerted thereon. The inner portion may include one or more portions configured to retain the implantable device at the deployment site and to resist migration of the implantable device. The inner portion may be movable with respect to the outer portion. The inner portion may include more than one portions, such portions being movable with respect to each other. A shaft may extend through the device, such as to facilitate inflation of the outer portion and/or positioning of the inner portion.

Abstract: An end effector having first and second jaws movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. At least one jaw has a tissue-engaging surface contoured to enhance grasping of tissue between the jaws. For instance, the tissue-engaging surfaces may be contoured to engage tissue along the tissue-engaging surface substantially evenly/uniformly and/or contemporaneously from the distal end to the proximal end of the jaw. The tissue-engaging surfaces may be contoured independently of and/or differently from the jaw's outer surface. The tissue-engaging surfaces of the first and second jaws may be contoured to enclose tissue engaged therebetween.

Abstract: An implantable medical device with at least a portion of a wall thereof being coated to prevent fluid flow therethrough, and having one or more uncoated anti-migration features promoting tissue ingrowth therearound. The anti-migration features may be partially-closed or fully closed shapes forming a retention portion transverse to the direction along which migration forces typically impact the implantable medical device at the anatomical site at which the implantable medical device is to be deployed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for redirecting a flow of air/gas to flush fluid channels. An illustrative container and tube set for redirecting a flow of air may include a container, a water supply tube including a first lumen extending therethrough, a gas supply tube including a second lumen extending therethrough, a manifold including a first inlet for receiving air, a second inlet for receiving fluid from the container, a first air outlet, and a second fluid outlet, and a valve positioned within the manifold. When the valve is in a first configuration, the first inlet is in fluid communication with the first air outlet, and the second inlet is in fluid communication the second fluid outlet and when the valve is in a second configuration, the first inlet is in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. Example fluid reservoirs and tube sets arranged and configured to couple to an endoscope for use in an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. An example fluid reservoir and tube set includes a fluid reservoir configured to contain a fluid, a fluid supply tube configured to be coupled to the endoscope and having a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the lumen is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and a first backflow prevention mechanism coupled to the fluid supply tube, the first backflow prevention mechanism configured to permit fluid to flow through the fluid supply line from the fluid reservoir to the endoscope and to prevent fluid from flowing back through the fluid supply tube from the endoscope to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of fluid through a medical device may include a medical device having a lumen that extends to a distal end of the medical device; a fluid source configured to supply fluid having a positive pressure to the lumen of the medical device; and a flow controller configured to apply a negative pressure to the fluid within the lumen, wherein the flow controller is triggered to apply the negative pressure upon a lowering of the positive pressure from the fluid source.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis has an expanded state and an unexpanded state, the endoprosthesis includes a stent, wherein the stent has a first end, a second end, an inner surface defining a lumen, an outer surface, and a thickness defined between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a stent end covering disposed at one of the first and second ends, the stent end covering including a polymeric coating that includes a base and a plurality of protrusions, the base including a first major surface facing the outer surface of the stent, the base further including a second major surface from which each of the plurality of protrusions extends outwardly, the first major surface opposing the second major surface, wherein the protrusions are arranged in a micropattern. Methods of making and using an endoprosthesis are provided.