Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.

Abstract: To arrange surgical end effectors used in minimally invasive surgery, the disclosure provides an instrument holder which can be arranged inside the body of the patient. An instrument holder of this kind has a base part having multiple receptacles. The volume of the base part can be varied for the purpose of inserting the base part into the human body, and removing it therefrom, by way of a trocar. A method is also provided for arranging an instrument holder for surgical end effectors used in minimally invasive surgery inside the patient body.

Abstract: A surgical instrument organizer. The surgical instrument organizer includes an upper assembly affixed to a lower assembly. The upper assembly includes a recessed area for supporting surgical instruments, one or more catheters extending therefrom, and one or more clips for supporting tubes, cables, and the like. In one embodiment, the catheters are operably connected to a valve that controls passage therethrough. The lower assembly includes one or more chambers accessible via one or more ports. In one embodiment, a channel and tube causes the upper assembly to be in fluid communication with the chambers of the lower assembly, wherein cleaning solution may be added or removed from the chambers as desired. Each port of the lower assembly is configured to receive wires for cleaning the chambers of blood or other fluids.

Abstract: A sacrificial mechanical link for linking a first mechanical element to a second mechanical element includes: a sacrificial element having a first end and a second end; and a first mechanical element removably connected to the first end of the sacrificial element. A method of using a sacrificial mechanical link includes: coupling a first mechanical element to a second mechanical element with a sacrificial element; and applying a force to a one of the first mechanical element and the second mechanical element to cause deformation of the sacrificial element.

Abstract: A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with surgical tools and a camera extending out of its distal end. To supplement the view provided by an image captured by the camera, an auxiliary view including articulatable arms of the surgical tools and/or camera is generated from sensed or otherwise determined information about their positions and orientations and displayed on a display screen from the perspective of a specified viewing point.

Abstract: Systems and methods for virtual reality or augmented reality (VR/AR) visualization of 3D medical images using a VR/AR visualization system are disclosed. The VR/AR visualization system includes a computing device operatively coupled to a VR/AR device, and the VR/AR device includes a holographic display and at least one sensor. The holographic display is configured to display a holographic image to an operator. The computing device is configured to receive at least one stored 3D image of a subject's anatomy and at least one real-time 3D position of at least one surgical instrument. The computing device is further configured to register the at least one real-time 3D position of the at least one surgical instrument to correspond to the at least one 3D image of the subject's anatomy, and to generate the holographic image comprising the at least one real-time position of the at least one surgical instrument overlaid on the at least one 3D image of the subject's anatomy.

Abstract: System and method for use of mixed and augmented reality Imaging surgical suite and an augmented reality device are provided. A 2D/3D virtual grid having a head-up display with augmented reality is provided. The head-up display can display a 2D radiographic image or 3D volumetric representation or shape model of image, and can further display an augmented reality grid/indicator which can be depicted as a grid, implant, instrument or bone avatar/figure representing shapes, orientations, and positions relative to an anatomical image or model. The augmented reality indicator can be displayed directly in a surgeon's field of view to provide a live, intra-operative situational environment and navigational guidance for the surgeon. The head-up display can show avatar grids/indicators that are outside of the surgeon's field of view within a patient's body.

Abstract: A marker delivery device is configured for deploying a tissue marker. The marker delivery device includes a handle having a chamber, and a cannula. According to one aspect, the cannula has a flexible portion formed by a slot arrangement having of a plurality of spaced-apart substantially parallel peripheral slots extending through the side wall of the cannula to the lumen. A marker introducer rod is movably disposed in the lumen of the cannula for deploying the mark, and has a flexible region that corresponds to the flexible portion of the cannula. According to another aspect, a retraction mechanism is mounted to the handle and is configured to facilitate a complete retraction of both the cannula and the marker introducer rod into the chamber of the housing of the handle upon an actuation of the retraction mechanism.

Abstract: A system for driving an electric handpiece in response to a pneumatic control signal may provide for fast interchange of handpieces, self-calibration and wide dynamic range of operation with precise speed control. The system may be incorporated into virtually any dental treatment center using traditional pneumatic drive handpieces, and a conversion kit may facilitate such conversion. The system may provide not only for controlling the speed and torque of a tool coupled to an electric drive handpiece responsive to a pneumatic control signal, it may also provide for coupling cooling air and treatment media, such as air and/or water to the handpiece. Coupling of a handpiece to an operating base of the system, including coupling of media lines and electrical connections may be made with a simple press and twist action using quick connection structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the virtual post-processing of a first virtual three-dimensional dental model (14) of a dental prosthesis (28), said model having been created during the planning of the prosthesis (28). The first virtual dental model (14) is processed virtually after the planning stage in an additional method step (18, 31) by adapting at least one three-dimensional aesthetic surface structure (17) already in existence to the first dental model (14) by means of a virtual tool (10) with the aid of a computer (4) and a display device (6) and by subsequently inserting said structure into the first dental model (14). The aesthetic surface structure (17) has a predetermined form, size and/or a predetermined impression depth (41), and a tooth surface (19) of the dental model (14) is at least partially replaced by the adapted aesthetic surface structure (15, 17).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transparent aligner for dental alignment is disclosed. The method may include: determining a tooth contour model which includes a contour portion surrounding a surface of a tooth requiring rotational correction; determining an axis of rotation for the tooth requiring rotational correction; determining two points touching exterior surfaces of the tooth requiring rotational correction based on the axis of rotation and a direction of rotation required for correcting the tooth requiring rotational correction, the two points being symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation; determining a rotational correction model for the rotational correction by protruding the contour portion towards a tooth surface and towards a direction of rotation at the two points; and generating the 3D dental alignment model data by applying the rotational correction model.

Abstract: A series of appliances including a first shell and a second shell can be designed to incrementally implement a treatment plan. The first and second shells can have cavities designed to receive teeth of a jaw. The first shell can be designed to interface with a first surface of a plurality of surfaces of an attachment structure to provide a first engagement force specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. The second shell can be designed to interface with a second surface of the plurality of surfaces of the attachment structure attached to the at least one tooth of the first jaw to provide a second engagement force specific to a second stage of the treatment plan.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for moving the mandibular jaw relative to the maxillary jaw in response to jaws being closed is described. The orthodontic appliance includes a first member and a second member which is disconnected from the first member when jaws are in open position. The first member is adapted to be fixedly attached to one of mandibular or maxillary dental arches, and the second member is adapted to be rotatingly coupled with the other one of mandibular or maxillary dental arches. The first member and second member are in vertical alignment. During the closure of dental arches, the second member contacts the first member, and the rotation of the second member is initiated. Rotation of the second member pushes the mandibular jaw in either anterior or posterior direction.

Abstract: A low profile winged impression post having snap-in features eliminates the need for individual impressions of the mandibular and maxillary arches as well as a separate bite registration when registering a dental implant. The low profile impression post is retained by a press fit which eliminates the cumbersome task of screwing in the implant post. The time and steps needed to produce a stone model for construction are shortened. The same low profile impression post can be scanned optically for accurate placement in a virtual three dimensional space model of the jaw. A physical model can be generated in rigid polymer from the virtual scan data.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for adjustably retaining an oral appliance to an abutment assembly are disclosed. In one variation, a securement apparatus can comprise a sleeve having a sleeve frame and a number of locking flaps. The sleeve can define a lumen therethrough for positioning upon an abutment assembly. The locking flaps can have varying length dimensions and can project radially inward or outward relative to the sleeve frame. The outward flaps can lock against surface features defined along an inner surface of a coping coupled to the oral appliance and the inward flaps can lock against surface features defined along a portion of the abutment assembly. The sleeve can release the oral appliance from the abutment assembly when the locking flaps of the sleeve are actuated by an actuation unit.

Abstract: This invention discloses a physical gateway that goes directly through gum or other soft tissues inside the oral cavity, to access inside body. The physical gateway has parts acting as external access points that have terminals for cables, wires, fiber optics, or tubes that go through said gateways to implanted medical systems and devices to facilitate transmission of signals or materials to or from said implanted systems or devices. This feature can be used for powering implanted systems and devices with high functionality and computation power, securely communicating with implanted systems and devices with vital duties, and transferring materials for refilling the tanks in implanted systems and devices or for transferring some material from inside body to outside without requiring invasive operations.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for determining surface topography of a three-dimensional structure. The apparatus can include a probe and an illumination unit configured to output a plurality of light beams. In many embodiments, the apparatus includes a light focusing assembly. The light focusing assembly can receive and focus each of a plurality of light beams to a respective external focal point. The light focusing assembly can be configured to overlap the plurality of light beams within a focus changing assembly in order to move the external focal points along a direction of propagation of the light beams. The apparatus can include a detector having an array of sensing elements configured to measure a characteristic of each of a plurality of light beams returning from the illuminated spots and a processor coupled to the detector and configured to generate data representative of topography of the structure based on the measured characteristic.

Abstract: An automotive intraoral scanner applied in a mouth includes a biting piece, a track piece and at least one mobile image processing set. The biting piece is sandwiched between two rows of teeth. The track piece is installed in the biting piece and disposed corresponding to the rows of teeth, and a shape of the track piece is similar to a shape of the rows of teeth. The mobile image processing set is installed on the track piece and moved along the track piece, and the mobile image processing set is disposed corresponding to the rows of teeth. Therefore, the automotive intraoral scanner has advantages of easy operation.

Abstract: A computational device determines a representation of one or more anatomical features, and based on the determined representation of the one or more anatomical features, a three-dimensional model is oriented in a three-dimensional space in an anatomically accurate manner. Thereafter, an orthodontic device design is created using the oriented three dimensional model and an orthodontic device is manufactured based at least in part on the orthodontic device design.

Abstract: A method is provided for shaping a custom dental restoration from a preform, wherein the preform comprises a preform body and a preform stem. A method is further disclosed for generating one or more nesting positions for the restoration design within the geometry of the preform body relative to the position of the preform stem. A method is further disclosed for generating machining instructions based on the selected nesting position to optimize machining for chair-side applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a dental prosthesis with the chronological steps: A) Inserting the prosthetic teeth into the prosthetic base and connecting them with it in such a way that after their insertion into the prosthetic base the prosthetic teeth have limited movability in the prosthetic base B) Changing the position and/or the orientation of at least one prosthetic tooth in the prosthetic base; C) Fixing the prosthetic teeth on the coronal side in a key, and securing the orientation and position of the prosthetic teeth to one another in the changed position and/or orientation; D) Separating the prosthetic teeth from the prosthetic base; F) Fastening the prosthetic teeth in the prosthetic base with a cement or an adhesive, the gaps between the surfaces of the prosthetic base that are provided for fixation of the prosthetic teeth and the prosthetic teeth being filled with the cement or the adhesive; and G) Allowing the cement or adhesive to harden, the prosthetic teeth being solidl

Abstract: An oral irrigator includes a base having a pump mechanism, a reservoir housed within the base and fluidically connected with the pump mechanism. A handle with a jet tip is connected with an outlet from the pump mechanism to receive a pressurized fluid stream from the reservoir to direct a fluid at a surface inside an oral cavity. The oral irrigator also includes a radiant energy source and delivery system for directing radiant energy at a surface inside an oral cavity.

Abstract: A brush head assembly (100) including: a hard platen (24); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25); and an elastomeric matrix (30) bonded to the hard platen, where each of the bristle tufts is bonded directly to the elastomeric matrix without a retention element. A brush head assembly (100) includes: a hard platen (24) with a plurality of bristle tuft holes (28); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), where each of the plurality of bristle tufts are inserted into a respective one of the bristle tuft holes; and an elastomeric matrix (30) that at least partially encompasses the hard platen and the proximal end of the bristle tufts.

Abstract: An osteotome for sinus lift procedures includes a body interchangeable with various handles. The body includes a shaft that is releasably received into the handle, and a tip portion. The tip portion may be directly utilized for ridge expansion/bone compression, or a succession of tip members may instead be received thereon to provide suitable diameter escalation to create the socket. A conduit in the tip portion interconnects with a conduit in a hydration port and a conduit in a tip member. A hose couples the hydration port to a syringe, to deliver fluid out the tip member to lift the membrane. Graduated syringe markings permit delivery of measured fluid quantities to control the amount of lift. A second hydration port is coupled to a graduated cylinder through a valve, which is opened after lifting is complete, to measure the fluid released. A loss of fluid measured indicates a sinus tear.

Abstract: An injection apparatus for injecting a medicament into a patient, the injection apparatus has a stationary head and a movable head that is movable with respect to the stationary head. A needle is attached to a needle holder that is held by the movable head and by the stationary head. When the movable head is urged rearwardly, a front edge of the needle moves forwardly with respect to a front face of the movable head.

Abstract: Apparatus for spacing apart the jaws of an animal, such as a canine, in a fixed relationship during the performance of a medical or dental procedure. The apparatus includes a bite member for spacing apart the teeth of an animal, a strap adapted to be wound around the snout of the animal for confining the snout and a strap connector with the strap connector having one end thereof adapted for attachment to the strap and another end for holding the jaws in relatively tight engagement against the bite member after the strap is wound around the snout.

Abstract: Devices and methods for inserting an implant into skin or other tissue of a patient can include an insertion device having moveable portions that can retain, move, or otherwise control engagement and injection of a hyaluronic thread. The device can include a tubular member and a handle. The handle can include a body component coupled to the tubular member. The body component can include a passage that extends in communication with the lumen. The handle can further comprise first and second arms coupled to the body component and extending outwardly from the distal portion of the tubular member. Based on the configuration, the first and second arms can be positioned along the passage to change a cross-sectional profile of the passage and permit the device to engage or disengage the thread.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis for repairing or augmenting anatomical defects, including an inguinal hernia. The prosthesis may include a repair fabric having a body portion and a pocket on one side of the body portion to facilitate deployment and/or placement of the prosthesis at the defect site. For some applications, such as a reversible prosthesis, a second pocket may be provided on the opposite side of the body portion. Each pocket may be configured to receive a sufficient length of one or more fingers of an individual for deploying and/or positioning the prosthesis. A support member may be provided to help deploy the repair fabric at the surgical site and/or help inhibit folding or buckling of the repair fabric.

Abstract: A hernia repair device includes a mesh configured figured to extend across a tissue defect and a plurality of filaments coupled to the mesh. The filaments are coupled to the mesh in proximity of an outer periphery thereof and extend from a central portion of the mesh. Each filament includes a plurality of barbs disposed along at least a portion of the length thereof. Each filament further includes a needle disposed at a free end thereof.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of surgical tacks for use in surgical procedures. The tacks generally include a head and a barrel portion extending distally from the head. Preferably, the head and the barrel portion define a throughbore for receipt of a drive instrument. A thread on the head is provided to engage threads in the installation tool. A tissue thread is provided on the barrel portion to engage tissue. Distal and proximal surfaces of the tissue thread may be oriented at various angles relative to the barrel portion. There is also disclosed an insertion instrument to insert one or more tacks as well as a method of use. There is further disclosed a model device for use in explaining the operation of the instrument.

Abstract: A tool for driving a helical anchor into a target location, the tool including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a handle and an actuator, and a shaft extending distally from the proximal portion, the shaft comprising an outer shaft and an inner rotating shaft that is at least partially concentrically positioned within the outer shaft, the shaft having a length that facilitates accessing a location of a posterior pelvic region, wherein the inner rotating shaft is actuated by movement of the actuator in a predetermined motion.

Abstract: A clot removal device and method for removing a dot from a blood vessel may include an expandable clot engagement element, an expandable dot capture element, and a sheath surrounding and compressing the capture element and the engagement element. The sheath may be removable to thereby enable the capture element to expand in a blood vessel in which the sheath is deployed, and to enable the engagement element to expand within the capture element.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embolism protection devices that may be deployed in the peripheral arterial system for the collection of loosened or floating debris, such as embolic material dislodged during or thrombi formed as a result of a peripheral intervention, such as an angioplasty, stenting, or atherectomy. The disclosed embolism protection devices are designed to be inserted distal to lesion in a lower limb artery via one of the arteries of the foot, such as the dorsalis pedis, posterior tibialis, or peroneal (fibular) artery, and they include a compliant mesh portion supported by a compliant wire support member, and the compliant mesh portion extends to form or couples to a solid catheter portion that extends out of the body during use, and that may be coupled to a stopcock or syringe for removal of debris.

Abstract: A removable vena cava filter configured for reduced trauma and enhanced visualization of anchoring hook placement relative to the vessel wall is disclosed. The filter includes a plurality of struts, each having an anchoring hook and a stop member proximate the anchoring hook. The stop members are configured to engage the vessel wall to prevent excessive penetration of the anchoring hooks into the vessel wall and to aid in the identification of anchoring hook placement relative to the vessel wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for implanting a heart valve and removing debris from a blood vessel, composed of: a collapsible and deployable filter for blocking debris in a blood vessel in a patient's body; a circular cuff coupled to a small diameter end of the filter and defining a through passage extending from the small diameter end, the cuff having, at a first end, an internal diameter coaxial with a circular opening at the small diameter end of the filter; a first sheath for housing the filter in its collapsed state and having a length sufficient to extend out of a patient's body when the filter is at a desired location in a blood vessel; and an assembly for implanting a prosthetic valve in the patient's heart, said assembly comprising a second sheath and a catheter housed in the second sheath and carrying an implantable valve.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an implant in which cells are arranged in a fine pattern that is available for immediate implantation and that does not need to be removed after implantation is provided. The present invention relates to a cell-containing sheet, which comprises cells and a support comprising a bioabsorbable material, in which the support has a cell adhesion protein-containing layer on the surface thereof and the cells form a pattern on the support.

Abstract: A dynamic dual chamber breathing prosthesis and methods are provided. The dual chamber breathing prosthesis can include an elastic lung prosthetic capable of being implanted in a chest cavity of a patient in place of an excized portion of lung, such as a lobe, and a reservoir capable of being implanted in the patient. A tube can be configured to be operatively arranged between the elastic lung prosthetic and the reservoir such that the elastic lung prosthetic is in fluid communication with the reservoir. As a breathing cycle including an inspiration phase and an expiration phase alternatingly occur during normal respiration, a fluid is capable of being dynamically transferred between the elastic lung prosthetic and the reservoir during each breathing cycle.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis assemblies and methods for using the same. In at least one embodiment, the endoprosthesis assembly comprises an endoprosthesis comprising an impermeable inner wall defining an endoprosthesis lumen sized and shaped to permit fluid to flow therethrough, a distal balloon positioned at or near a distal end of the endoprosthesis and capable of inflation to anchor the distal end of the endoprosthesis within a luminal organ, and a proximal balloon positioned at or near a proximal end of the endoprosthesis and capable of inflation to anchor the proximal end of the endoprosthesis within the luminal organ, wherein when the endoprosthesis assembly is positioned within the luminal organ at or near an aneurysm sac, inflation of the distal balloon and the proximal balloon effectively isolates the aneurysm sac and prevents fluid within the aneurysm sac from flowing past the distal balloon and the proximal balloon.

Abstract: An implant assembly for introducing and positioning implants within patients may comprise an implant device, an implant, and a sheath. The implant device may include a head, an upper beam, a lower beam, and an implant positioning component. The implant may be disposed between the upper beam and the lower beam and may include a first face engaged with the upper beam and a second face engaged with the lower beam. Additionally, the implant may be at least partially disposed around the implant positioning component. The sheath may be disposed around the implant positioning device and the implant.

Abstract: A mastopexy implant for maintaining the breast in an elevated and aesthetically pleasing position includes a lower pole support comprising end portions which may be affixed to the chest wall or to a previously installed upper suspension strut. The implant is loaded in an insertion device. The insertion device is inserted through a small incision and into a subcutaneous pocket created in an inferior half of the breast. The lower pole support may have various constructs and in one embodiment includes a unitary conformable mesh having a plurality of arm or band members which are attached across the breast parenchyma and to the chest wall.

Abstract: Medical kits and methods for performing small incision DLEK include a corneal transplantation donor tissue graft formed into an implantable and compact rolled configuration using the flexible substrate.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant is provided that includes a bowl-shaped posterior lens unit, which comprises a posterior lens, and has an inner surface; an anterior floating lens unit, which comprises an anterior lens; and a plurality of levers, which (a) are in jointed connection with the anterior floating lens unit and the posterior lens unit, and (b) are arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the posterior lens unit, in an anterior-posterior direction. The lens implant is shaped such that the inner surface limits posterior motion of the anterior floating lens unit.

Abstract: A novel phakic intraocular lens implantation without viscoelastics and an instrument thereof. The special designed instrument is employed to achieve a purpose of maintaining an anterior chamber only with a perfusion liquid in the surgery, so as to get rid of the influence of the viscoelastics completely. The viscoelastics are not used, so that there is no need to inject the viscoelastics or remove the viscoelastics as in traditional methods, the surgery time is shortened such that total time of surgical procedures from incision construction to incision hydration can be reduced to only 1˜3 minutes, and viscoelastic-related complications, such as postoperative high intraocular pressure and lens opacity, are completely avoided.

Abstract: A stent-valve for transcatheter implantation to replace a cardiac valve, the stent valve being compressible to a compressed state for delivery, and expandable to an operative state for implantation, the stent-valve comprising a stent, a plurality of leaflets for defining a prosthetic valve, an inner skirt, an outer skirt, and a paravalve seal for sealing against surrounding tissue. In some embodiments, the paravalve seal comprises material that swells in response to contact with blood. In some embodiments, the seal comprises a flap or pocket that is distensible in response to backpressure and/or paravalve back-flow of blood.

Abstract: A method for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve including the following steps: endovascularly delivering an anchor and a replacement valve supported within the anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in a collapsed delivery configuration, the anchor having grasping elements adapted to grasp tissue in a vicinity of the heart valve; expanding the anchor, thereby rotating the grasping elements; and grasping the tissue with the rotating grasping elements.

Abstract: Features for a heart valve device are described. The device may include a frame with anchors configured to secure the device to tissue. The frame may include a flared end or skirt for additional securement of the implanted device. The device may include a seal such as a barrier and/or cuff for preventing leakage. The device may contract for endovascular delivery of the device to the heart and expand for securement within the heart, such as the within the native mitral valve annulus. The device may include a replacement valve. The valve may have leaflets configured to re-direct blood flow along a primary flow axis.

Abstract: A guidewire system may include a guidewire having a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section joined by a transition region, and a TAVI device slidably disposed on the guidewire. The guidewire may include an expandable element disposed about the transition region. The expandable element may be configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The guidewire may include an expandable element disposed at the distal end. The distal section may be pre-configured to form more than one distal loop. A method of protecting an apex of a left ventricle during a TAVI procedure may include inserting a guidewire into the left ventricle, positioning a transition region adjacent the apex, expanding an expandable element such that the expandable element spans the apex, advancing a TAVI device distally over the guidewire to an aortic valve, and performing a TAVI procedure at the aortic valve.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for treating native heart valves are disclosed herein. A system for delivering a prosthetic device into a heart of a patient includes an elongated catheter body and a delivery capsule. The delivery capsule can be hydraulically driven to deploy at least a portion of a prosthetic heart valve device. The delivery capsule can release the prosthetic heart valve device at a desired treatment site in a patient.

Abstract: A system for delivering a collapsible and re-expandable prosthetic heart valve into a patient includes a valve support structure around which the valve is disposed in a collapsed condition. A sheath structure surrounds the collapsed valve, but can be moved relative to the valve to uncover it for expansion at the desired implant site in the patient. The sheath structure may be variously mounted and moved to deploy the valve in various ways. For example, the sheath structure may include multiple parts, each of which can be moved separately to separately deploy various parts of the valve. The apparatus may have other aspects, such as the ability to reverse deployment of the valve, the ability to pass other instrumentation through the valve delivery apparatus, the ability to be smoothly withdrawn from the patient after deployment of the valve, etc.

Abstract: A delivery device for a stented heart valve comprises a handle, an inner catheter shaft extending from the handle and having an enlarged bumper element at a distal end, an outer catheter shaft extending from the handle and slidably coupled around the inner catheter shaft, and a retraction mechanism for controlling longitudinal movement of the outer catheter shaft relative to the inner catheter shaft. The outer catheter shaft includes a generally cylindrical housing at a distal end that is structured to receive the bumper element therein.