A trans-atrial septal catheter system for delivery of a steerable sheath into the left atrium contains three components. The first component is a three-segmented needle-guide wire composed of a distal needle designed to flex sharply in relation to the conjoined looped guide wire segment after fossa ovalis puncture and needle advancement. The distal guide wire loops are advanced into the left atrium maintaining the angled needle in a central location relevant to the loops for preserving an atraumatic position while stabilizing the loops in the left atrium. The elongated proximal extra stiff guide wire segment is conjoined to the looped segment which crosses the fossa ovalis and extends proximally to become externalized to the femoral vein. This segment is extra stiff and significantly elongated to permit catheter and device exchanges. The guide wire serves as a support rail over which the dilator and sheath can be advanced into the left atrium. This transseptal system is uniquely forward looking and permits cautious and iterative delivery of the dilator into the fossa ovalis for “tenting” by way of a proximal sheath activator that interacts with the dilator. The proximal externalized GW is then advanced to permit puncture of the fossa ovalis. After puncturing a precise location of the fossa ovalis, the needle and coiled guide wire loops are further advanced into the left atrium. With the proximal activator, the dilator is advanced across the fossa ovalis into the left atrium using single-handed maneuvering for separate dilator advancement and steering of the sheath by way of turning or actuating the sheath handle.

Systems and methods for coating surgical needles are provided.

Self-retaining sutures having a first end for penetrating tissue and an elongated suture body comprising a plurality of intermittent apertures structured to enable formation of knotless suture loop closures that securely hold opposing tissue faces together due to the presence of the intermittent apertures through the suture that permit one-way passage of the suture body thus forming a self-retaining or self-engaging loop in the suture that does not slip backwards. Once a desired loop size is formed between tissue faces by pulling the suture through one of the intermittent apertures in the suture thread, the suture thread is clipped and a further loop is begun using the remainder of the suture thread affixed to the suture needle.

The disclosure provides various embodiments of systems to facilitate the cutting of luminal tissue structures percutaneously.

A uterine manipulator includes a handle and a central shaft that extends distally from the handle. The central shaft includes a distal end portion supporting a balloon. The central shaft also supports a cervical cup. An occluder shaft is slidably supported on the central shaft. A non-inflatable plug is secured to the occluder shaft and configured to move with the occluder shaft as the occluder shaft slides along the central shaft.

A device comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to at least partially rotate when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject's intraluminal network, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut.

Devices and methods are described for occluding the left atrial appendage (LAA). The device excludes the LAA from blood flow to prevent blood from clotting within the LAA and subsequently embolizing, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation. The implantable device is delivered via transcatheter delivery into the LAA and secured within the LAA. The implant comprises an expandable and compliant frame and an expandable and conformable tubular foam body carried by the frame. The device may have a thromboresistant cover at a proximal end and a thromboresistant coating on the foam body. The frame may have recapture struts inclining radially outwardly in the distal direction from a central hub. The frame may have axially extending side wall struts, with adjacent pairs of side wall struts joined at one or more apexes. Anchors extend from the frame to engage tissue. The anchors can also be reversible to allow retraction of the anchors and repositioning or retrieval of the device.

An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.

A sterile interface module for coupling an electromechanical robotic surgical instrument to a robotic surgical assembly is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector and is configured to be actuated by the robotic surgical assembly. The sterile interface module includes a body member and a drive assembly. The body member is configured to selectively couple the surgical instrument to the robotic surgical assembly. The body member is formed of a dielectric material. The drive assembly is supported within the body member and is configured to transmit rotational forces from the robotic surgical assembly to the surgical instrument to actuate the surgical instrument to enable the surgical instrument to perform a function.

A surgical implant comprising a receiver member and deployment member for clamping and sealing tissue of variable thickness, a corresponding applicator tool and surgical system for connecting, sealing, fastening and/or attaching tissue to itself, to other tissue and/or to non-tissue structures, and/or sealing the flow of fluid at and/or between structures such as tissue and vessel structures.