A robotic inspection system for corrosion detection within external post-tension bridge tendons includes a sensing device. The sensing device is configured to move along a bridge tendon to detect magnetic flux leakage of the bridge tendon as the sensing device moves along the bridge tendon. In addition, the system includes a location device coupled to the sensing device, where the location device is configured to determine the location of the sensing device on the bridge tendon. The system also includes a control station configured to wirelessly interface with the sensing device and the location instrument. The control station is also configured to generate a bridge tendon condition assessment report from the detection of magnetic flux leakage to identify locations and sizes of discontinuities of the bridge tendon.

A method for occluding a blood vessel has steps for encasing a semi-rigid, circular plastic ring, open at one point, in silicon material, forming a bladder along an inside diameter of the silicon material, placing a mixture of sodium and potassium salts and polyacrylamide granules in the bladder, closing and sealing the bladder, forming a pair of opposed stirrups on an outside diameter of the silicon material, spreading the encased plastic ring by the stirrups accomplishing an opening through the ring of an extent enabling the ring to be placed over a blood vessel, placing the encased plastic ring over the blood vessel, releasing the stirrup, allowing the ring and bladder to close around the blood vessel, such that the bladder, constrained by the ring from expanding outward, absorbing moisture by osmosis over time, expands inward, and over a time t fully occludes the blood vessel.

Manufacturing an expandable body of a clot retrieval device having a first coating of radiopaque material defining a plurality of micro-columns and a second coating, the method including applying the first coating to strut elements, removing at least a portion of the first coating from at least one area of the strut elements, and cutting away regions of both the first coating and the strut elements to form an interconnected pattern of coated and uncoated regions.

A hydrogel marker is placed under stress during its curing stage, in one embodiment, by application of an externally applied force. The stress may also be induced during or after the dehydration process. The direction of the externally applied force increases the length, width, depth, or radial extent of the marker. The elastic limit of the marker is exceeded when the external force is applied so that the marker substantially retains its stressed size and shape when the externally applied force is removed. When the stretched or otherwise deformed dehydrated marker is hydrated, it substantially returns to the configuration it had prior to its dehydration and prior to the application of the externally applied force.

The invention provides intravascular devices for treating certain medical conditions such as edema without causing thrombosis. The intravascular devices of the disclosure include non-thrombogenic surfaces that improve blood compatibility by reducing device-related thrombus formation and inflammatory reactions. The non-thrombogenic surfaces may include surface topographies (e.g., surface roughness) and modified chemistries (e.g., coatings and/or treatments), which prevent thrombosis by reducing local shear forces and inhibiting adhesion of blood clotting factors.

The invention provides intravascular devices for treating certain medical conditions such as edema without causing thrombosis. The intravascular devices of the disclosure include non-thrombogenic surfaces that improve blood compatibility by reducing device-related thrombus formation and inflammatory reactions. The non-thrombogenic surfaces may include surface topographies (e.g., surface roughness) and modified chemistries (e.g., coatings and/or treatments), which prevent thrombosis by reducing local shear forces and inhibiting adhesion of blood clotting factors.

The present disclosure illustrates an introducer sheath with a partially annealed metal frame. The introducer sheaths described herein include a hub coupled to a shaft. The shaft comprises a braided wire frame with (i) an annealed distal portion that prevents the braided wire frame from unraveling at a distal end, and (ii) a second portion that is unannealed; a jacket encompassing the braided wire frame; and a liner forming an inner wall.

A marker delivery device including a delivery catheter, a marker, and a push rod. The delivery catheter is adapted to be inserted into a biopsy site and having a discharge opening. The marker having a coating layer disposed on the surface of a core. The coating layer includes an adhesive with a plurality of microbubbles. The microbubbles are configured to enhance visibility of the marker under ultrasound imaging. The marker is positioned inside the delivery catheter near the discharge opening. The push rod is positioned within the delivery catheter and is adapted to deploy the marker from the delivery catheter into the biopsy site.

A skin grafting system having a handheld device, a cartridge, and a device shield. The handheld device includes a device housing forming an interior that secures a drive system. The cartridge includes a plurality of hollow microneedles surrounded by a peripheral housing and is configured to be operated by the drive system to extend and retract past the peripheral housing into a subject to harvest tissue during a skin grafting process. The device shield is formed of a polymer extending from an interior opening to an exterior edge, the interior opening sized to extend about the peripheral housing to positon the exterior edge over the device housing to control ingress of fluids into the interior of the device housing from fluid about the peripheral housing of the cartridge during the skin grafting process performed using the skin grafting system.

A positioning wand for assisting in positioning at least one of a first magnetic implant and a second magnetic implant configured for forming an anastomosis between two adjacent walls of a digestive tract of a patient is provided. The positioning wand can include an elongated member sized and configured to be inserted into an abdominal cavity of the patient, and a distal tip provided at a distal end of the elongated member. The distal tip can include a guide magnet configured to magnetically couple with the at least one of the first and second magnetic implants through a wall of the digestive tract to position the at least one of the first and second magnetic implants to a desired site of the anastomosis. The distal tip can be configured to be moveable in response to a contact pressure upon contact with the wall of the digestive tract.