Abstract: Apparatus and methods to reduce ventricular volume are disclosed. The device takes the form of a transventricular anchor, which presses a portion of the ventricular wall inward, thereby reducing the available volume of the ventricle. The anchor is deployed using a curved introducer that may be inserted into one ventricle, through the septum and into the opposite ventricle. Barbs or protrusions along the anchor body combined with a mechanical stop and a sealing member hold the device in place once deployed.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of one or more implant structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying a tensile member to bring a wall of the heart toward (optionally into contact with) a septum of the heart.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to reduce ventricular volume are disclosed. The device takes the form of a transventricular anchor, which presses a portion of the ventricular wall inward, thereby reducing the available volume of the ventricle. The anchor is deployed using a curved introducer that may be inserted into one ventricle, through the septum and into the opposite ventricle. Barbs or protrusions along the anchor body combined with a mechanical stop and a sealing member hold the device in place once deployed.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices, a system, and a method for removing kidney stones from the urinary system of a patient with reduced pain and expenses. The system includes expandable, elongated balloon sheaths that deliver and retrieve forceps and a urethral sparing prosthetic stent. The stent is reconstrainable with interwoven nylon strands that are strategically positioned amongst the struts to ensure smooth collapse for removal. An atraumatic coating of PTFE or PET lining on the stent extends from the struts through the tip of the penis to assist patients in passing stones while the stent is in place at the bladder neck. The stent can stay in place for several days while permitting urine drainage. The basket-shaped forceps device has multiple curved, rigid arms to dilate the urethra and capture occluded or embedded stones with a built-in camera. The method is for removing stones through a protected urethral canal.

Abstract: An endoscopic biopsy system comprising a means for drawing a sample to be sealed, separated, and/or collected towards an instrument, such as a structure that includes one or more of: an extendable wire, an extendable mast, an extruded tube with at least one opening and a vacuum therein, a pivot point, a hinge, and a mounting block. The system should have a means to transfer energy to a sample after a sample is grasped, such as a conducting wire or an anvil. The system should also have an airtight means to remove a separated sample from a biopsy site for analysis, such as a collection bag or an internal vacuum suction system. The endoscopic biopsy system can be used in a method of obtaining a biopsy from the thoracic cavity that includes a step of insufflating gas to induce pneumothorax and collapse a lung.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising a stent and a polymer scaffold.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of one or more implant structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying a tensile member to bring a wall of the heart toward (optionally into contact with) a septum of the heart.

Abstract: A method for use in reconstructing the left ventricle of the heart of a patient from a diseased state to an appropriate reconstructed state is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining the body surface area of the patient; determining a characteristic of the left ventricle which is the same in the diseased state as in the reconstructed state; determining an appropriate sizer based on the determined body surface area of the patient and the characteristic of the left ventricle which is the same in the diseased state as in the reconstructed state; identifying akinetic tissue within a heart chamber wall; making an incision through the akinetic tissue in the chamber wall; inserting said appropriate sizer into the chamber through the incision; removing the sizer; and, closing the incision.

Abstract: A method for reducing left ventricular volume, which comprises identifying infarcted tissue during open chest surgery; reducing left ventricle volume while preserving the ventricular apex; and realigning the ventricular apex, such that the realigning step comprises closing the lower or apical portion of said ventricle to achieve appropriate functional contractile geometry of said ventricle in a dyskinetic ventricle of a heart.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a medical instrument at a desired biological target tissue site is provided. The system includes an elongated sheath having a deflectable distal end configured to deflect or otherwise position at least a portion of a medical instrument during a surgical procedure allowing for the placement of the deflected portion adjacent or proximate to a predetermined target tissue surface. The positioning system may be incorporated into the medical instrument. The medical instrument may be an ablation system.

Abstract: A web-based, interactive diagnosis, referral and reference system is used by physicians, patients, and others in the health care field to serve as a diagnostic, evaluation, and utilization tool/guide. The user may enter answer a series of guided questions to reach a diagnosis, obtain a physician referral and/or review literature and other reference materials on conditions. A method and device for left ventricular reconstruction is also disclosed. The device includes a curved needle or introducer which is inserted into one ventricle, through the septum and into the other ventricle. An anchor is then used to fold and hold the wall of the heart inward, thereby reducing the volume of the ventricle.

Abstract: An ablation assembly capable of ablating tissues inside the cavity of an organ is disclosed. The ablation assembly generally includes an ablative energy source and an ablative energy delivery device coupled to the ablative energy source. The ablative energy delivery device is configured for delivering ablative energy sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. The ablative energy delivery device generally includes a penetration end adapted to penetrate through a wall of an organ and an angular component that is used to position the device inside the organ after the device has penetrated through the wall of the organ.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for reducing the volume of the ventricles of the heart. In one embodiment, a method for reducing the ventricular volume of a heart chamber is provided including the steps of inserting an anchoring mechanism onto dysfunctional cardiac tissue, deploying one or more anchors into the dysfunctional cardiac tissue, raising the dysfunctional cardiac tissue using the anchors, and securing the anchors to hold the dysfunctional cardiac tissue in place. Further, a device for reducing the volume of the ventricles of a heart chamber is provided where the device has one or more clips for placement on dysfunctional cardiac tissue of a heart, one or more anchors for deployment and securement into the dysfunctional cardiac tissue, and a lifting mechanism for raising the one or more anchors and the dysfunctional cardiac tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to reduce ventricular volume are disclosed. The device takes the form of a transventricular anchor, which presses a portion of the ventricular wall inward, thereby reducing the available volume of the ventricle. The anchor is deployed using a curved introducer that may be inserted into one ventricle, through the septum and into the opposite ventricle. Barbs or protrusions along the anchor body combined with a mechanical stop and a sealing member hold the device in place once deployed.

Abstract: A device for use in reconstructing the left ventricle of the heart from a diseased state to an appropriate reconstructed state is disclosed. The device includes a sizer which has a flat first surface and an apex. The apex is connected to a generally cylindrical central section, and said central section is connected to the first surface. The central section and the first surface of the sizer are configured so that when the first surface is located abutting the base of the left ventricle the central section is located at the location of the interior of the appropriate reconstructed left ventricle.

Abstract: A method for reducing left ventricular volume, which comprises identifying infarcted tissue during open chest surgery; reducing left ventricle volume while preserving the ventricular apex; and realigning the ventricular apex, such that the realigning step comprises closing the lower or apical portion of said ventricle to achieve appropriate functional contractile geometry of said ventricle in a dyskinetic ventricle of a heart.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a medical instrument at a desired biological target tissue site is provided. The system includes an elongated sheath having a deflectable distal end configured to deflect or otherwise position at least a portion of a medical instrument during a surgical procedure allowing for the placement of the deflected portion adjacent or proximate to a predetermined target tissue surface. The positioning system may be incorporated into the medical instrument. The medical instrument may be an ablation system.

Abstract: A system and method for ablating a selected portion of a contact surface of biological tissue is provided. The system includes an elongated ablation sheath having a preformed shape adapted to substantially conform a predetermined surface thereof with the contact surface of the tissue. The elongated ablation sheath includes a non-permeable portion. The ablation sheath defines an ablation lumen sized to slideably receive an elongated ablative device longitudinally therethrough. The ablative device includes a flexible ablation element selectively generating an ablative field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. Advancement of the ablation element slideably through the ablation lumen of the ablation sheath selectively places the ablation element along the ablation path for guide ablation on the contact surface when the predetermined surface is in strategic contact therewith.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and controlling the temperature of an organ during surgery, and are particularly useful for monitoring and controlling the temperature of the heart during surgery. The subject systems include a temperature sensor for application to the organ, reservoirs for containing temperature-controlled fluids to be delivered to the organ, a temperature regulator for regulating or maintaining the temperatures of such fluids, a pump for transferring the fluids from the reservoirs to the organ, a display for displaying certain system operating parameters and other information, a user interface module and a controller for controlling the functions of the system based on certain system operating parameters. The subject methods generally involve monitoring the temperature of an organ and, based on the organ's temperature, controlling the application of temperature-controlled fluids to the organ.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a medical instrument at a desired biological target tissue site is provided. The system includes an elongated sheath having a deflectable distal end configured to deflect or otherwise position at least a portion of a medical instrument during a surgical procedure allowing for the placement of the deflected portion adjacent or proximate to a predetermined target tissue surface. The positioning system may be incorporated into the medical instrument. The medical instrument may be an ablation system.