Systems and methods are described for correcting sagittal imbalance in a spine including instruments for performing the controlled release of the anterior longitudinal ligament through a lateral access corridor and hyper-lordotic lateral implants.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type applications, the instrument including an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part, a distal end part and an intermediate part between proximal and distal end parts, the proximal end part having at least one actuation proximal zone. The distal end part has at least one flexible distal zone, and the elongated tubular body is configured such that a movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred to a corresponding flexible distal zone for a corresponding movement thereof. The elongated tubular body includes an inner, outer, and intermediate cylindrical elements having longitudinal elements between the inner and outer cylindrical elements. Inner, outer and intermediate cylindrical elements are coupled so movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred by the longitudinal elements of one of the intermediate cylindrical elements to a corresponding flexible distal zone.

A rotatable jaw device for use with an endoscope and method of using a rotatable jaw device. The device includes a fork, and two jaws pivotally mounted to the fork. The jaws are movable between a predetermined closed position and a predetermined open position. At least one jaw has at least one protrusion on a surface of the jaw. The at least one protrusion prohibits movement of the two jaws in the opening direction beyond the predetermined open position. One jaw may have an elongated center void defined by twin jaw extensions, and the other jaw may rotate within the elongated center void when the two jaws move toward the predetermined closed position.

An apparatus for the treatment of acid reflux disease comprising two or more movement restriction device segments adapted to be assembled movement restriction device of a controlled size. The assembled movement restriction device can at least partly be invaginated by a patient's stomach fundus wall. A substantial part of the outer surface of the movement restriction device is adapted to rest against the stomach wall without injuring the latter in a position between the patient's diaphragm and at least a portion of the lower part of the invaginated stomach fundus wall, such that movement of the cardiac notch of the patient's stomach towards the patient's diaphragm is restricted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patient's diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax, so as to maintain the supporting pressure against the patient's cardia sphincter muscle exerted from the patient's abdomen.

A system for excising an implanted clip approximating opposed valve leaflets in a heart valve includes a capture catheter configured to be introduced proximate the valve leaflets on one side of the clip, a transfer catheter configured to be introduced proximate the valve leaflets on another side of the clip, and a cutting tool configured to be deployed between the capture and transfer catheters and to be engaged against tissue of at least one of the valve leaflets and to excise the clip. A removal catheter may optionally be used to remove the clip from the heart.

Systems and methods are described for correcting sagittal imbalance in a spine including instruments for performing the controlled release of the anterior longitudinal ligament through a lateral access corridor and hyper-lordotic lateral implants.

A catheter for debulking of an undesired deposit from an inner surface of at least one of a blood vessel wall and a stent located in a blood vessel, the catheter having a tip section comprising: circumferentially-directed laser optics; and a circular-action cutter, wherein said circumferentially-directed laser optics is configured to transmit laser radiation for modifying an area of the undesired deposit thereby preparing said area for penetration of said cutter, wherein said cutter is configured to cut through said modified area and thereby debulk at least a part of the undesired deposit. In addition, a catheter for pacemaker and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) lead extraction is disclosed.

An intracranial intervention system comprises a seeker wire and delivery catheter used to navigate and access a target location within the intracranial subarachnoid spaces (ISAS) of a patient. A microcatheter is then advanced through the delivery catheter to perform a therapeutic procedure, such as installing a shunt within the ISAS to drain cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF). The shunt may be configured to drain CSF from a first and second ISAS, and includes a distal portion which extends into the first ISAS via the second ISAS and a dural venus sinus (DVS) of the patient. The shunt has a main body portion positioned and secured within the second ISAS, a distal portion extending into the first ISAS and the main body portion in the second ISAS have CSF intake opening which allow CSF to flow into a shunt lumen and out through an outflow opening positioned in the DVS.

The present disclosure is a catheter assembly and related method that allows laceration of either a surgical valve or transcatheter valve leaflet to facilitate flow to the coronary arteries during valve in valve interventions.

A device for minimally invasive, inter-layer surgical procedures advantageously forms a wedge for advancing between adjacent tissue layers and provides a jaw that can be actuated to create a working space for a cutting tool and other instruments within a plane between the tissue layers. The device may also usefully employ an open or wireframe structure for the opposing jaws to preventing tissue or fluid accumulation between the jaws and maximize visibility around the surgical site.