Apparatus for opening or closing a tissue opening in a biological subject, the apparatus including at least two flexible arms coupled to a tissue surface in use, each arm being curved outwardly in a mid-portion to accommodate a tissue opening therebetween and a biasing mechanism that selectively biases opposing ends of each arm to thereby at least one of bias mid-portions of the arms apart to assist in at least partially opening the tissue opening; and bias mid-portions of the arms towards each other to assist in at least partially closing the tissue opening.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an access valve that may be retrieved after implantation. The access valve may include a frame having a lumen, a self-expandable member extending through the lumen, and an elastic membrane extending through the lumen and a second end of the frame to releasably seal the lumen. The access valve may releasably attach to a wall of a patient and releasably seal an opening through the wall. The access valve may be attached to the wall by placing the frame adjacent the wall, extending the self-expandable member through the opening in the wall, and expanding the self-expandable member such that the self-expandable member applies a first force against the wall and a second force opposite the first force against the frame to sandwich the wall between the self-expandable member and the frame.

A trans-xiphoid procedure for gaining entry to the chest cavity of a patient, sometimes also referred to herein as a TRAX procedure. The procedure may be used for, among other things, mobilization of the mammary arteries and performing coronary artery bypass surgery in which the mammary artery of the patient or other conduit is joined to a coronary artery of the patient, such as the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery.

An umbilical catheterization device that allows a physician to prepare an umbilical cord and apply appropriate retraction to widen vessels to introduce a catheter. The device comprises a base and a plurality of arms. The arms may include retraction devices or may be compatible with independent retraction devices, including but not limited to sutures. The retraction devices are attached to the umbilical cord, and used to provide retraction.

Medical devices and methods of using medical devices are disclosed. An example tissue retraction device includes a first engagement member having a first end and a second end, a second engagement member having a first end and a second end, a first elastic member attached to the second end of the first engagement member, and a first alignment member having a first end, a second end and a lumen extending therethrough. Further, the tissue retraction device has a first length, the first alignment member has a second length, the first elastic member extends within the lumen of the first alignment member and the second length of the first alignment member is less than or equal to the first length of the tissue retraction device.

A traction apparatus, comprising a clip portion (2) and a traction portion (1), the traction portion containing a closed traction structure (11); the closed traction structure being made from an elastic material; the clip portion comprising a main clip body (23, 25) and a clip arm (24, 26); the main clip body being capable of passing through a biopsy channel (4) of an endoscope (3), the clip arm being capable of clip the closed traction structure. Also disclosed is a traction ring used for the traction apparatus, the traction ring being a single closed traction structure or being formed by connecting several closed traction structures, the traction ring being made from an elastic material.

A surgical rib retractor has a housing and a body pivotably coupled to the housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The retractor also has a first arm unit coupled to the housing and configured to atraumatically receive tissue. The first arm unit has a first arm, a first strut movable relative to the first arm in a first plane defined by the first arm, and a first frame attached to the first strut. The retractor also has a second arm unit coupled to the body and configured to atraumatically receive tissue. The second arm unit has a second arm, a second strut movable relative to the second arm in a second plane defined by the second arm, wherein the second plane is not parallel to the first plane when the body is in the closed position, and a second frame attached to the second strut.

Medical devices and methods of using medical devices are disclosed. An example tissue retraction device includes a first tissue engagement member coupled to an elastic member by a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly including a first coupler body having a first end region and a first compression member. Further, the first end region of the first coupler body is configured to extend into a portion of a lumen of the elastic member and the compression member is designed to compress the elastic member onto the first coupler body such that the elastic member is fixedly engaged with the coupler body.

Apparatus for endoscopically retracting tissue, the apparatus comprising a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a balloon movably mounted to the sleeve; and at least one connector extending from the balloon and configured to be secured to tissue which is to be retracted; wherein the balloon is configured to be moved relative to the sleeve in order to retract the tissue.

An apparatus for opening or closing a tissue opening in a biological subject, the apparatus including at least two flexible arms coupled to a tissue surface in use, each arm being curved outwardly in a mid-portion to accommodate a tissue opening therebetween and a biasing mechanism that selectively biases opposing ends of each arm to thereby at least one of bias mid-portions of the arms apart to assist in at least partially opening the tissue opening; and bias mid-portions of the arms towards each other to assist in at least partially closing the tissue opening.