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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

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.

Abstract: A medical stent may include a tubular support structure including a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells disposed between the plurality of struts. A polymeric coating may be disposed over the tubular support structure such that a first portion of the plurality of cells are closed by the polymeric coating in a first region of the tubular support structure and a second portion of the plurality of cells in a second region of the tubular support structure remain open to fluid flow and/or tissue ingrowth therethrough. The struts in the first region of the tubular support structure and the struts in the second region of the tubular support structure may be at least partially covered by the polymeric coating.

Abstract: Medical devices for cinch and cutting one or more suture, and methods for making and using such devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a coupler, a sleeve releasably coupled to the coupler, a cutter slidably disposed within the sleeve, and a suture cinching member movable into and out of the sleeve. A wire may extend through and be longitudinally movable within the coupler to move the suture cinching member and cutter.

Abstract: A medical stent may include a tubular support structure including a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells disposed between the plurality of struts. A polymeric coating may be disposed over the tubular support structure such that a first portion of the plurality of cells are closed by the polymeric coating in a first region of the tubular support structure and a second portion of the plurality of cells in a second region of the tubular support structure remain open to fluid flow and/or tissue ingrowth therethrough. The struts in the first region of the tubular support structure and the struts in the second region of the tubular support structure may be at least partially covered by the polymeric coating.

Abstract: A combined system for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures includes a needle extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough, the distal end including a sharp grind for cutting a tissue sample to be collected in the lumen of the needle and a protective sheath sized and shaped to be inserted through the lumen of the needle such that a distal end of the protective sheath extends distally past the distal end of the needle, the protective sheath extending longitudinally from a proximal end to the distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough.

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: Systems and methods for treating tissue may include one or more delivery devices, a grasping element, a first ring for anchoring to a wall of a gastrointestinal tract, and a second ring operably couplable to a radially inward surface of the first ring. Other embodiments include methods of treating tissues, including tubular tracts of tissue, comprising coupling a first ring to first tissue of a wall of a tissue tract, relocating a target tissue proximally to a position proximal to the first ring, coupling a second ring to the first ring, and cutting tissue proximal to the interface of the first and second rings.

Abstract: A combined system for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures includes a needle extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough, the distal end including a sharp grind for cutting a tissue sample to be collected in the lumen of the needle and a protective sheath sized and shaped to be inserted through the lumen of the needle such that a distal end of the protective sheath extends distally past the distal end of the needle, the protective sheath extending longitudinally from a proximal end to the distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough.