A medical device for joining materials is provided. The device comprises a piercing element configured to penetrate materials to be joined. The piercing element is sufficiently sharp to penetrate materials to be joined and comprises a hollow interior along at least a portion of its length configured to distal advancement of a fastener therethrough; and an open tip through which the fastener can be pushed. The device can be used for fastening materials including tissue, synthetic mesh, and biologic mesh (e.g., ADM).

A system for reshaping a valve annulus includes an elongate template having a length along a longitudinal axis and at least one concavity in a generally lateral direction along said length. The pre-shaped template is positioned against at least a region of an inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus, and at least one anchor on the template is advanced into a lateral wall of the valve annulus to reposition at least one segment of the region of the inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus into said concavity. In this way, a peripheral length of the valve annulus can be foreshortened and/or reshaped to improve coaptation of the valve leaflets and/or to eliminate or decrease regurgitation of a valve.

A system having an elongate assembly, an expandable assembly having a fixed end region and a movable end region, the expandable assembly selectively transitioning between an expanded state and an unexpanded state with movement of the movable end region towards the fixed end region, and an advancement aid extending distally from the expandable assembly.

An assembly for retracting soft tissue in a surgical incision is provided, the assembly including a supporting member having first and second ends; a retractor blade having a first distal end and a second proximal end retained at the first end of the support member; a retaining arm which co-operates with the support member and receives and supports a clamping assembly; and an adjusting assembly which engages the support member and allows the clamping assembly to advance and retract relative to the retractor blade.

Mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses including an inverting, rolling conveyor region (“tractor”) at the distal end that are configured to grab and remove thrombus material. In particular, described herein are mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses that are adapted to prevent premature deployment of the tractor, e.g., by including a tractor hold (e.g., a housing, a lock, a clamp, etc.) or the like to secure the outer end of the tractor against and/or relative to the elongate inversion support.

The invention provides a clamping instrument and a clamping assembly, which mainly comprises a positioning base, a moving base, at least two clamping arms connected with the moving base, at least two linkage arms respectively connected with each of the clamping arms and the positioning base, and an actuating rod respectively penetrating through the positioning base and the moving base, wherein the positioning base is rotated circumferentially and fixed axially relative to the actuating rod, and the moving base is rotated circumferentially and moves axially relative to the actuating rod; when the movable rod is rotated circumferentially, a distance between the moving base and the positioning base can be changed, and then each of the clamping arms is linked to be rotated around the moving base to be in an unfolded position or a clamped position so as to clamp a preset site of a human tissue. Thus, the rotating amplitude of the clamping arms can be finely adjusted to provide a clamping force with high precision in the present invention.

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.

A surgical instrument assembly is provided. In some embodiments, an example surgical instrument assembly includes a surgical instrument configured to pass through a guide tube having a proximal end and a distal end. The surgical instrument can include one or more arms configured to extend from the intermediate position, each arm having one or more joints positioned along the arm and an end effector attached at the distal end of each arm. The surgical instrument assembly can include a control assembly positioned at the proximal end and configured to control the movement of the joints and the end effectors.

A device for forming a tissue fold includes a recess and an opening at the end of the recess. Tissue is drawn into the recess and through the opening using a tissue engaging element. As the tissue is drawn through the opening, the tissue layers are compressed together. A fastener is used to secure the tissue fold.

Devices used to provide transseptal access are disclosed. The devices may comprise at least one cannula, a needle, and a handle. The cannula and the needle may be configured to be inserted through a dilator while not damaging a lumen wall of the dilator. The handle may be configured to lock the needle in a retracted position. The devices may be configured to telescopically advance the needle through an atrial septum.