Abstract: Stents, auxiliary compressive structure for stents, and techniques to avoid migration of a deployed stent are provided. An auxiliary support structure can be provided to apply compressive force on the flanges of the stent further compressing the stent or to provide axial or radial support for the flanges. The auxiliary support structures can be integrated into the stent or provided as separate device.

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: 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: An implantable medical device having at least one compliant retention member configured not only to resist migration of the device with respect to its deployment site, but also to conform to anatomical forces applied thereto. The retention member may present a convex tissue-contacting surface to tissue at the deployment site and to which anatomical forces may be applied. The retention member may be compressible upon application of radially-inwardly directed anatomical forces thereto, but is sized, shaped, configured, and/or dimensioned to withstand forces tending to cause migration of the implantable medical device even when being compressed radially-inwardly. As such, the implantable medical device withstands forces applied thereto without building up internal stresses which may result in material fatigue.

Abstract: An accessory device for an endoscope includes a cap attached to a shaft of the endoscope, the cap extending along a first axis, a first tip coupled to the cap and movable relative to the cap between a deployed configuration and a non-deployed configuration, and a first shaft defining a lumen and extending proximally from the first tip. In the deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a second axis that is offset from the first axis, and in the non-deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a third axis that is offset from the first axis.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system for coupling separate anatomical structures, such as to form an anastomosis therebetween. The system includes first and second implantable medical devices configured to be implanted with respect to anatomical structures to be coupled, and also configured to be coupled together. The implantable medical devices may be coupled together with a separate connector. The separate connector may be a stent or an elongated tether-like element. Additionally or alternatively, the implantable medical devices may be formed with interengaging elements which couple the implantable medical devices together, such as without the need for a separate connector. The implantable medical devices may be spaced apart when coupled together, with a connector bridging the gap therebetween, or may be in abutting contact with each other.

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 accessory device for an endoscope includes a cap attached to a shaft of the endoscope, the cap extending along a first axis, a first tip coupled to the cap and movable relative to the cap between a deployed configuration and a non-deployed configuration, and a first shaft defining a lumen and extending proximally from the first tip. In the deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a second axis that is offset from the first axis, and in the non-deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a third axis that is offset from the first axis.

Abstract: A tissue traction device having a segment defined along a limited extent about the perimeter of the tissue traction device and more flexible than surrounding regions of the tissue traction device. The tissue traction device is actuatable to bend along the more flexible segment thereof, generally in a direction of a side of the tissue traction device opposite the more flexible segment thereof. The tissue traction device may be formed from one or more flexible tubular elements, with the flexible segment along a limited extent about the perimeter of the one or more tubular elements. A tissue traction system may be configured to provide actuation medium, such as an inflation medium, to the tissue traction device to control movement of the tissue traction device. The tissue traction system may include one or more flexible tubular elements, a distal end of which forms the tissue traction device.

Abstract: A tissue traction device having a target-tissue-engaging segment and more than one traction-tissue-engaging segment spaced apart from the target-tissue-engaging segment. The tissue traction device may have a peripheral section with at least one traction-tissue-engagement section therein, with at least one of the traction-tissue-engaging segments defined on such traction-tissue-engagement section. An additional traction-tissue-engagement segment may be defined within the peripheral section, optionally on an additional traction-tissue-engagement section, and/or within the at least one traction-tissue-engagement section. One or more traction-tissue-engagement segments within the peripheral section may be simultaneously and/or sequentially engaged with traction tissue to achieve varying force vectors of traction on the target tissue.

Abstract: An accessory device for an endoscope includes a cap attached to a shaft of the endoscope, the cap extending along a first axis, a first tip coupled to the cap and movable relative to the cap between a deployed configuration and a non-deployed configuration, and a first shaft defining a lumen and extending proximally from the first tip. In the deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a second axis that is offset from the first axis, and in the non-deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a third axis that is offset from the first axis.

Abstract: A tissue grasping device for use with an endoscope may include a sheath, a control wire slidably disposed within the sheath, and a helical coil disposed over and attached to the control wire. The helical coil may include a proximal region in which adjacent windings are in contact, and a distal region in which adjacent windings are spaced apart. The helical coil may have a sharpened distal tip.

Abstract: A filament cutting device may include an outer sheath. A bushing may be coupled to a distal end of the outer sheath. An inner diameter of the bushing may be a cutting edge at a distal tip of the bushing. An actuation wire may be slidably extendable within the outer sheath and bushing. An engaging body may be coupled to a distal end of the actuation wire. A cavity may be defined along a length of the engaging body configured to capture a portion of the filament within the cavity. Movement of the actuation wire and engaging body with the filament captured within the cavity may cause the cutting edge to sever the filament.