Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus cooling system including: a case configured to contain hardware components for operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus; a cooler located in a first direction with respect to the case and configured to cause air to flow in the first direction in the case; and an air distribution layer located between the case and the cooler and configured to direct air from the case to the cooler.

Abstract: We disclose a medical toilet that includes a system for interpreting measurements collected by medical devices on or in the medical toilet and for customizing the measurements to each user. The system may use information about the user to selecting which measurements to perform, select or modify parameters that apply to the measurement techniques, and select follow-up measurements that may be performed based on the first set of measurements. These decisions may be made according to the user's physical, demographic, or medical status information that may be entered into a controller connected to the medical toilet. The controller may apply a set of rules to the measurements and thereby determine a value which provides an estimate of the validity of the measurements and which may be used to make adjustments to subsequent measurements.

Abstract: A bone biopsy device includes an outer cannula having a mouth with a cutting edge to section a frustule of spongy bone, a plate mounted slidably within the cannula with a semi-cylindrical portion at its end, and a stylet mounted slidably within the plate and having a pointed tip protruding from the mouth of the cannula to pierce the bone. The mouth has a narrowing and the semi-cylindrical part of the plate has at its end at least one pair of opposed lunettes/anchorages bendable, with respect to a horizontal plane, towards the interior of the semi-cylindrical portion when they encounter the narrowing of the mouth, thereby occluding the lumen of the plate and clasp the base of the sectioned frustule and allow extraction of the frustule by way of the plate whilst the cannula is kept at the operating site, allowing aspiration of marrow after the frustule has been removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a biopsy device to position a needle of the biopsy device within breast tissue is described and claimed. The apparatus includes a cannula, an obturator; and an obturator actuation assembly, which is described as an “overshoot obturator”. The overshoot obturator is designed to give the physician the ability to set the z-lock to the targeted depth, then move the obturator forward, relative to the sleeve to cut additional tissue. This reduces the tissue force which can push the obturator out of the desired biopsy location.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a cannula and an inner divider wall disposed in the cannula. The inner divider wall defines a plurality of cannula fluid openings. The outer wall of the cannula and the inner divider wall together define a cutter receiving lumen and a cannula vacuum lumen. The cannula fluid openings provide fluid communication between the cutter receiving lumen and the cannula vacuum lumen. A cutter is translatable with respect to the cannula for severing tissue drawn into the cannula. The cutter is operable to cover and/or uncover the cannula fluid openings. A proximal portion of the cutter is spaced away from the inner divider wall. A distal portion of the cutter is configured to slide adjacent to the inner divider wall.

Abstract: A marker delivery device, “adaptor”, for a MRI breast biopsy system is described and claimed. The marker adaptor for the MRI breast biopsy device provides the operator with the ability to easily mark after an MRI biopsy procedure through the biopsy sleeve. The flexible shaft marker snaps into the marking adaptor which creates the oval shape that mates with the inner surface of the sleeve. This locks the orientation of the sleeve and marker, with adaptor, together. The marker adaptor also contains a hard-stop which allows the user to place the biopsy marker in the correct location.

Abstract: A biopsy device may include a first jaw having a first distal tip configured to pierce tissue, and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between a closed configuration where the first jaw and the second jaw are axially aligned, and an open configuration where the first jaw and the second jaw are offset from one another, the second jaw having a second distal tip proximal to the first distal tip in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A retractor system for use in dynamically retracting the skin adjacent to an incision in a panniculus of a patient during a laparotomy or Cesarean section includes a support frame with at least one support member disposed above the panniculus of the patient, and an upper retractor that includes: a first resilient member including a first support member end attached to the at least one support member, and a first patient attachment end for attaching to the skin of the patient adjacent the incision in the panniculus; and a second resilient member including a second support member end attached to the at least one support member, and a second patient attachment end for attaching to the skin of the patient adjacent the incision in the panniculus. The first and second resilient members are responsive to the respiration of the patient.

Abstract: A suture anchor assembly and method of tissue repair using the same suture of the suture anchor assembly. The suture anchor assembly has a fixation device, at least one repair suture coupled to a portion of the fixation device, and a shuttle loop coupled to the portion of the fixation device. The repair suture has a passing end configured to pass through tissue and a free end opposite the passing end. The shuttle loop has at least one linking region, such as an eyelet configured to receive the passing end of the at least one suture repair.

Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose with first and second noose limbs connected, preferably slidably connected, to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. The first and second noose limbs emerge from the anchor as first and second free filament limbs which are capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and then passable through the noose. The noose, such as one or more half-hitches, is capable of receiving the free filament limbs and strangulating them when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limbs and the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated. Preferably, the snare assembly further includes a flexible sleeve joining at least some portion of the first and second free filament limbs to facilitate passing of the free filament limbs at least through the tissue as a single unit.

Abstract: A soft tissue fixation assembly includes a plurality of deformable bone anchors and a suture that is configured to fixedly attach to each of the bone anchors. One or more of the bone anchors can be inserted into a bone, and one or more of the bone anchors can be inserted through soft tissue and into the bone. The suture can be inserted through the bone anchors, and energy can be applied to the anchors, thereby causing a deformable material of the bone anchors to deform, thereby capturing the strand of suture in the bone anchor. The strand of suture can be placed in tension, and can extend over the soft tissue so as to retain the soft tissue in contact with the bone.

Abstract: A suture device including: an elongated shaft member; a pair of gripping members; and a passing mechanism that transfers a suture needle between the gripping members, wherein the passing mechanism is provided with fitting holes provided in the individual gripping members and to which the suture needle is fitted, holding members that are inserted into recessed portions in outer circumferential surface of the suture needle by being pulled toward the proximal end sides thereof in directions that intersect axes of the individual fitting holes, a swing member that is provided so as to be swingable about an axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, a pair of tensile-force transmitting members that transmit tensile forces that cause the swing member to be swung, axial-force transmitting members that transmit axial forces associated with swinging of the swing member, and hold-state maintaining mechanism that maintains the holding members in the recessed portions.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for a surgical stitching device is provided. The end effector assembly includes an end effector, a housing, and a needle. The end effector includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The housing is movable relative to the end effector. The needle is releasably coupled to the housing and movable relative to the housing between a first, insertion position and a second deployed position. The needle is adapted, when in the second, deployed position, to releasably couple to one or both of the first jaw member and the second jaw member of the end effector.

Abstract: A tissue displacing and fastening device is provided for manipulating and fastening tissue together. The device includes a tissue displacing elements, which displaces tissue. A fold is formed from the displaced tissue and the tissue is fastened together to secure the fold.

Abstract: A stapling device for forming multiple tissue plications without needing to reload the device between plications is described. The device includes staple and anvil housings that move toward and away from a tissue-capture position. A cartridge holder in the staple housing supports a cartridge with multiple groups of offset staple slots, where the slots in each group are circularly arrayed about a cartridge center axis. A staple driver in the staple housing carries a plurality of arms for engaging and ejecting the staples in a first group of staples in the cartridge, when a tissue fold is captured between the cartridge assembly and anvil in the anvil housing. When the staple driver is retracted, after a tissue plication is formed, the cartridge assembly and tissue drive are indexed to eject the next-up group of staples.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for surgically joining a tissue includes a handle assembly, an elongate portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a pair of opposed jaw members, and a tissue stop. The tissue stop is mechanically engaged with a first jaw member and is configured to retain the tissue between the jaw members. The tissue stop is movable between a first position, where a stopping portion of the tissue stop is disposed between a tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a tissue-contacting surface of the second jaw member, and a second position, where the stopping portion is between the tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a lower surface of the first jaw member. A portion of the tissue stop is made of stamped metal section and a portion of the tissue stop is made of an overmolded plastic section.

Abstract: A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be arranged in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened. The fastener cartridge can further comprise a gap setting element which can be configured to control the distance between the anvil, the support portion, and/or the tissue thickness compensator.

Abstract: A system for treating tissue includes a clip assembly including clip arms movable relative to a channel of a capsule so that the clip arms are movable between a tissue receiving configuration and a tissue clipping configuration. Also, the system includes an applicator releasably coupleable to the clip assembly. The applicator includes a bushing and a control member extending therethrough. The bushing includes deflectable fingers, each of the fingers including an engaging feature at a distal end thereof to engage a corresponding engaging feature of the capsule of the clip assembly and assembled with a pusher element configured to push the fingers to a radially outward position. The pusher element includes a U-shaped portion curving into a channel of the bushing and a longitudinal portion extending distally therefrom. A cam washer is slidable over a length of the control member and positioned distally of the U-shaped portion.

Abstract: An anvil assembly includes a circular anvil head that supports a crush ring, an anvil cap that supports an o-ring, and a circular anvil buttress member. The cap connects to the head and is movable relative to the head between approximated and unapproximated positions. The crush ring is spaced from the cap when the cap is in the approximated position and movable into engagement with the cap to move the cap to the unapproximated position. The buttress member includes a body portion and an extension portion. The body portion is supported on the head and the extension portion is secureable between the o-ring and the head when the cap is in the approximated position. The extension portion is releasable from between the o-ring and the head when the cap is disposed in the unapproximated position so that the body portion separates from the head.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the subject invention included herein provide devices and methods to deliver nasal packing material to a body lumen, cavity, or other anatomical structure along with methods of use of the same.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an organic cavity injection device including an injection cannula for injecting a photo-activatable substance inside an organic cavity; at least one element or a plurality of elements configured to control the removal of a resident substance from the organic cavity and simultaneously prevent removal of the non-activated photo-activatable substance from the organic cavity; and an optical waveguide for providing electromagnetic radiation inside the organic cavity to the photo-activatable substance to photoactive the photo-activatable substance inside the organic cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to radiopaque shape memory foam compositions and methods of using the compositions. In certain embodiments, the compositions are used in neurovascular occlusion applications.

Abstract: This invention is an intrasacular aneurysm occlusion device with a proximal resilient stent which becomes wider than the aneurysm neck and a distal flexible net which is expanded by being filled with embolic members. The stent and the net work together. The stent occludes the aneurysm neck and prevents the device from slipping out. The net conforms to the walls of even an irregularly-shaped aneurysm sac and keeps the stent pressed against the inside of the aneurysm neck. This has advantages over the prior art, especially for aneurysms with irregularly-shaped sacs.

Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.

Abstract: A surgical tool with a housing, and a cutter support shaft operably connected to a motor to effect rotation of the shaft with a drive transmission configured between the motor and the shaft to effect oscillating rotary movement of the shaft and cutter is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for creating a bore in bone. The devices and methods described involve controlling the drive and measuring the drilling energy of a working tool such that a user can avoid injuries to surrounding structures.

Abstract: A computer visual guidance system for guiding a surgeon through an arthroscopic debridement of a bony pathology, wherein the computer visual guidance system is configured to: (i) receive a 2D image of the bony pathology from a source; (ii) automatically analyze the 2D image so as to determine at least one measurement with respect to the bony pathology; (iii) automatically annotate the 2D image with at least one annotation relating to the at least one measurement determined with respect to the bony pathology so as to create an annotated 2D image; and (iv) display the annotated 2D image to the surgeon so as to guide the surgeon through the arthroscopic debridement of the bony pathology.

Abstract: Intramedullary nails, systems, and methods. The intramedullary nail may include a generally elongate body extending from a first, distal end to a second, proximal end. The distal end may include one or more openings configured to receive one or more bone anchors that extend transversely through the distal end intramedullary nail, and thereby configured to secure the distal end of the nail. The proximal end may also include one or more openings configured to receive one or more bone anchors that extend transversely through the proximal end of the intramedullary nail, and thereby configured to secure the proximal end of the nail.

Abstract: Surgical apparatus includes a transducer (50) configured to be inserted into a cavity (28) inside a bone (22) within a body of a living subject and to engage an inner wall of the cavity at a selected location within the cavity. A drive circuit (38) is coupled to apply a drive signal to the transducer so as to cause an echogenic movement of the bone at the selected location.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate generally to orthopedic treatments, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to devices, apparatuses, kits, and methods for an orthopedic device comprising one or more alignment guides and/or fusion disks (e.g., for fusing together multiple bones at a fracture, injury, or surgery site).

Abstract: Apparatus for use in debriding a bone, said apparatus comprising: an arthroscopic debridement template comprising a body reconfigurable between (i) a first configuration having a first profile and comprising an arc matching the desired curvature of the bone after debridement, and (ii) a second configuration having a second profile, wherein said second profile is smaller than said first profile.

Abstract: An obstruction removal device is described, having one or more engaging members which can engage portions of the clot. The one or more engaging members have a collapsed, delivery state, and an expanded, deployed state which in some embodiments can be locked to maintain its fixed configuration.

Abstract: An obstruction removal device is described, having one or more engaging members which can engage portions of the clot. The one or more engaging members have a collapsed, delivery state, and an expanded, deployed state.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.

Abstract: Skin treatment systems, handpieces, suction wands, and methods of treatment are disclosed herein. A skin treatment system includes a treatment handpiece with removable tips, a console unit, and a suction assembly. The console unit can have a pressurization device configured to be fluidically coupled to the suction assembly. The suction assembly is configured to hold a subject's skin while the treatment handpiece moves along the epidermis. The tips can replaced any number of times to perform during a treatment session.

Abstract: A self-locking retractable surgical knife including a sheath member having front and rear ends, and a retractable member including a support member and a blade supported by the support member. The support member has a front end, a rear end and an elongated interior space. The retractable member is partially disposed in the sheath member and telescopically received in the sheath member for movement between a guarded position wherein the blade is guarded in the sheath member, and an exposed position wherein the blade extends out of the sheath member. The self-locking retractable further includes a biasing member disposed in the interior space of the support member and a latch member disposed in the interior space of the support member.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tissue reduction are described where one embodiment of the tissue resection device may generally comprise an external clamping mechanism having at least two distally extending members shaped with an atraumatic distal end and defining a confined region between the distally extending members sized to receive a tissue region therebetween. Additionally, an elongate coring needle defining a lumen and having a proximal end attached to a handle and a distal end which defines a cutting mechanism may also be included, wherein the coring needle is translatable adjacent and/or relative to the external or internal clamping mechanism defined by the confined region.

Abstract: A medical device includes a snare wire advanceable and retractable inserted through a channel in an insertion portion that is inserted through an endoscope; a substantially tubular cap member including a first portion and a second portion connected to a distal end of the insertion portion, the cap member having an annular distal end surface, the first portion being attachable to the distal end of the insertion portion in phase with the channel, and the cap member having an internal space formed by the first portion and the second portion; and a guide member being linearly extended along an internal surface of the distal end side of the cap member at a side of the second portion, the guide member being configured to guide the snare wire to form a loop and to restrict a retraction of the snare wire toward the side of the insertion portion.

Abstract: A system including a catheter assembly, which can include a housing, a sheath, and a core wire disposed within a sheath lumen. The housing can include a retraction-extension mechanism configured to retract the sheath from a first, fully extended position of the sheath, in which position a distal portion of the core wire can be wholly disposed within the sheath lumen. The housing can accommodate a proximal length of the sheath, and the retraction-extension mechanism can be configured to retract the proximal length of the sheath into the housing and expose a working length of a distal portion of the core wire. The core wire can include a sonic connector at a proximal end of the core wire configured to connect to an ultrasound-producing mechanism for ultrasound-based modification of one or more intravascular lesions with the working length of the core wire.

Abstract: A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member against or within surrounding tissue. The tubular member may be a trocar needle.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may be a medical device with increased compression resistance. The medical device may include an elongate shaft having a proximal end region, a distal end region, a lumen extending therethrough, and a tension resistance member extending at least partially between the proximal end region and the distal end region. An exoskeleton may be disposed along an outer surface of the shaft. The exoskeleton may include a plurality of discrete segments engaged with one another. At least one of the segments may be coupled to the tension resistance member.

Abstract: In the Abstract, please include the following paragraph, following the claim set: A surgical access device includes a proximal housing having proximal and distal end portions, the distal end portion of the housing being configured and adapted to engage a proximal portion of a flexible wound retractor. The proximal housing can be provided with a plenum chamber being defined therein, the plenum chamber being in fluid communication with at least one nozzle. The nozzle is preferably configured to direct pressurized fluid in an axial direction from the plenum chamber into a fluid in an axial direction from the plenum chamber into a central bore of the surgical access device to provide a constant gaseous seal around a surgical instrument inserted therethrough, while inhibiting a loss of pressurized fluid from the body cavity therethrough. The plenum chamber can be adapted and configured to receive pressurized fluid and conduct the pressurized fluid to the at least one nozzle.

Abstract: A surgical access device that includes a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes an upper housing portion having a first seal and a lower housing portion including a second seal. The upper housing portion is rotatably connectable to the lower housing portion. The surgical access device also includes a rotation prevention mechanism configured to prevent inadvertent relative rotation of, and disconnection of, the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion. The rotation prevention mechanism is further configured to be selectively actuated by a user, such that, when actuated, the upper housing portion is selectively rotatable relative to, and disconnectable from, the lower housing portion.

Abstract: A surgical access port and method for achieving articulation is disclosed, the surgical access port including a housing, at least one lumen extending through the housing, and an articulation structure. The housing comprises an access member having a proximal end and a distal end, and defines a longitudinal axis. The lumen in the housing extends from the proximal to the distal end of the access member along the longitudinal axis. The articulation structure comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member, the second tubular member hingably attached to the first tubular member, and an articulation element slidably attached to the first tubular member.

Abstract: A method may include inserting, through a slotted cannula, a first anchor assembly into a first spinal segment. The first anchor assembly may be attached to a suture at a first end of the suture. The method may include inserting, through the slotted cannula, a second anchor assembly into a second spinal segment. The method may include extruding, through the slotted cannula, a graft construct to permit the graft construct to extend from the first spinal segment to the second spinal segment. The graft construct may be connected to the suture. The method may include attaching, using the slotted cannula, a second end of the suture to the second anchor assembly to permit a spinal fusion of the first spinal segment and the second spinal segment using the graft construct.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering an implantable leadless pacing device may include a catheter shaft a distal holding section for receiving the implantable leadless pacing device. In some cases, the delivery device may include a flow-sensing device to determine a pressure or flow-rate of a fluid within the distal holding section. Also included may be a handle assembly and a deployment mechanism to deploy the implantable leadless pacing device.

Abstract: The invention provides a microdermabrasion device (1) comprising a vacuum system (100) and a device tip (200), wherein the vacuum system (100) is in fluid communication with a channel inlet (120) at an inlet zone (1200) of the device tip (200), wherein the vacuum system (100) is configured to apply a vacuum to the inlet zone (1200), wherein the inlet zone (1200) further comprises an sensor (400) configured to measure a skin parameter of a part of a skin in the inlet zone (1200) and to provide a corresponding sensor signal, wherein the device tip (200) further comprises a microdermabrasion zone (1240) configured to abrade a part of said skin, and wherein the microdermabrasion device (1) further comprises a control unit (500) configured to control the vacuum as function of sensor signal information derived from the sensor signal and a predetermined relation between the sensor signal information and a vacuum setting.

Abstract: A receiving part for coupling a bone anchor to a rod is provided, where the bone anchor includes a shank for anchoring to a bone or a vertebra. The receiving part includes a first end and a second end, the second end being connected to the shank, a bore extending from the first end into the receiving part for receiving a fixation device, the bore having a bore axis, and a recess for receiving a rod, the recess being open at the first end of the receiving part for allowing insertion of the rod and having opposing sidewalls on at least one side of the bore. When a rod is inserted into the recess, a longitudinal axis of the rod extends substantially perpendicular to the bore axis. A resilient retention element is provided on at least one of the opposing sidewalls, where the resilient retention element is deflectable toward the at least one sidewall when the rod is inserted.

Abstract: A screw element includes a screw axis, a shank for inserting in a bone, and a drive portion for engaging a screw driver. The drive portion includes a first wall defining a first recess and a second wall defining a second recess. Drive grooves are formed in the first wall and extend parallel to the screw axis. The second wall extends axially from a free end portion of the screw element to the first wall and has an inner diameter that continuously increases from the first wall towards the free end portion. A plurality of guide grooves are formed in the second wall at circumferential positions corresponding respectively to circumferential positions of the drive grooves. The guide grooves extend further radially from the screw axis than the drive grooves and guide the screw driver from the free end portion of the screw element to the drive grooves.

Abstract: Device for fixing a bony structure to a support member, the device comprising a first connecting member which comprises: a main body provided with a first passage configured for receiving the support member, and with a first opening configured for passing a flexible member therethrough; and a rod fixed to and/or monobloc with the main body and protruding therefrom. The device further comprises a first flexible member passing through the first opening of the main body and extending beyond the main body for attachment to the bony structure.