A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. Portions of the suture lay parallel to each other within the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel.

In order to provide a device with variable rigidity and a surgical gripping device that make it possible to increase the range of change in rigidity by means of a simple structure, this device with variable rigidity is configured so as to comprise two flexible sheets (12, 14) that include: a base material (20) formed using a sheet-like elastic material and having a plurality of recesses (20B) and a plurality of protrusions (20A) formed on one surface thereof; a low rigidity section (22) that is formed using an elastic material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the base material (20) and that is arranged in the recesses (20B) and joined to the recesses (20B) so that one surface of said low rigidity section (22) becomes flat; and a friction material (24) provided to the one surface. In addition, the two flexible sheets (12, 14) are covered by a bag-like cover with the two pieces of friction material (24) facing each other and are configured so as to have a ventilation port (18) whereby it is possible to suction the air within the flexible sheets (12, 14) and the cover (16) from the exterior of the cover (16).

A device for occluding a patient's left atrial appendage (LAA) device includes a self-expanding closure disc and an anchor. The self-expanding closure disc has an atrial side, an appendage side, and a peripheral edge configured to engage tissue on both an atrial side and an appendage side of an opening between the left atrium and the left atrial appendage. The self-expanding anchor extends from the appendage side of the self-expanding closure disc, and an annular sealing skirt extends about at least a portion of the appendage side of the self-expanding closure disc. the annular sealing skirt is more compliant than the self-expanding closure disc to seal over the left appendage side of the opening after implantation of the device in the LAA.

A closure device with a fixed upper jaw and a pivoting lower jaw, and a hook like tooth extending from the upper jaw such that the upper jaw may be used to engage distal mucosa tissue and pull the tissue over a mucosal defect while engaging proximal tissue with the lower jaw. This configuration allowing the closure of mucosal defects that are wider than the jaw span of the closure device

A surgical retractor for illuminating a surgical field includes an ergonomic handle, a retractor blade coupled with the handle, a quick release mechanism, and an illuminator blade. The retractor blade is adapted to engage and retract tissue, and the quick release mechanism is adapted to couple the handle with the retractor blade. The illuminator blade acts as a waveguide to transmit light by total internal reflection. Light is extracted from the illuminator to illuminate the surgical field. The retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring uncoupling of the illuminator blade from the handle and also without requiring optical uncoupling of the illuminator blade from a light source. The retractor may also be adapted to evacuate smoke from the surgical field.

Vaso-occlusive apparatuses, including implants, and methods of using them to treat aneurysms. For example, described herein are expandable vaso-occlusive implants that include one or more soft and expandable braided member coupled to a pushable member such as a coil that maybe inserted and retrieved from within an aneurism using a delivery catheter. In particular, the expandable implants described herein are configured to allow relatively soft and elongate implants to be pushed out of a cannula without binding up within the cannula.

A surgical instrument is provided having an actuator mechanism with an integrated extension element. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongate shaft, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a jaw assembly having atraumatic pads to reduce force on grasped tissue. An actuator is movable within the elongate shaft to actuate jaws of the jaw assembly responsive to a movable handle of the handle assembly. The actuator can have an integrated extension element that allows the actuator to translate within the elongate shaft upon application of a relatively low force and translate and extend upon application of a relatively higher force to the actuator to limit the force applied by the jaw assembly. The actuator also utilizes forces stored with the integrated extension element to provide a dynamic amount of force used to grasp the tissue when the tissue volume decreases while in the jaws.

A medical device may include a handle assembly having an actuator and a sheath. The sheath may extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the sheath may be coupled with the actuator. The medical device may further include an end-effector moveable relative to the sheath between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The end-effector may include a plurality of expandable legs. Each of the plurality of expandable legs may include a plurality of first indicia and a plurality of second indicia. A color of each of the first plurality of indicia may be different than a color of each of the second plurality of indicia.

A heating blade unit, a treatment tool, and a method of manufacturing a heating blade unit are disclosed. The heating blade unit includes: an electric heater, a blade, and a cover made of a thermosetting resin. The blade includes a treatment surface, an installation surface that is provided on a side opposite to the treatment surface and on which the electric heater is installed, and a support surface that is provided at a position different from a position at which the installation surface is provided. The cover integrally covers the electric heater, and one or more surfaces of the blade.

An all-suture anchor for generating bone compression and increasing interference fixation. The all-suture anchor includes a fibrous construct which is movable between a pre-deployment configuration and a deployed configuration. The fibrous construct has a first density. The all-suture anchor also includes a monofilament woven through the fibrous construct. The monofilament has a second density, which is different than the first density. The contrasting densities (i.e., irregularities) aids in the “locking” ability of the all-suture anchor by greater purchase in hard and soft bone. The all-suture anchor can have a variety of textures, barbs, and rigidities that aid in creating irregularities within the bone surface for more secure fixation.