A subcutaneously implantable device is implantable into a body of a patient, and includes a prong and an electrode. The prong has a contact portion at or adjacent to a distal end thereof that is configured to contact an organ, a nerve, and/or a tissue of the patient. The prong is constructed to apply pressure to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue so as to maintain contact between the contact portion and the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue without fixing the contact portion to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue. The electrode is provided at the contact portion of the prong, is configured to contact the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue, and is electrically coupled or couplable with circuitry that is configured to provide monitoring, therapeutic, and/or diagnostic capabilities with respect to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue.

Systems and methods can be employed for trans-tympanic membrane access to the middle ear for delivery of a therapeutic agent, for example, to the round window niche adjacent to the cochlea under direct visualization. The systems and methods can also be used to improve accessibility and visualization for various otological surgical procedures, such as, but not limited to, cholesteatoma removal, tympanic membrane repair and ossicular chain repair.

Device and method for implantation of hair grafts into the scalp of a patient. In the device, a cross-sectional shape of a rod riding in an implantation needle is configured with respect to the needle to communicate a vacuum in a chamber anterior to the needle forward to an interior of the needle, thereby facilitating loading of the hair graft into the device by direct-to-needle aspiration of the hair graft.

A lead extraction tool includes a lever for enhanced mechanical advantage. A belt of the tool which causes rotation of a cutter on an end of a sheath can be driven both when a trigger of the handheld tool is squeezed and when the trigger is relaxed. A pair of winged engagers are carried upon a pedestal which moves with the trigger, with a driver coupled to a portion of the trigger causing a rear winged engager or a front winged engager to engage the belt, both when squeezing the trigger and when relaxing the trigger.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin’s triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. A second dilator tube may be introduced over the first, advanced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from the first. A third dilator tube may be introduced over the second, advanced along a third longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from both the first and the second. An access cannula may be introduced over the third dilator tube. With the first, second, and third dilator tubes removed, surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and/or insert an intervertebral implant.

A system includes a sensor applicator, a sensor control device arranged within the sensor applicator and including an electronics housing and a sensor extending from a bottom of the electronics housing, and a cap coupled to one of the sensor applicator and the sensor control device, wherein the cap is removable prior to deploying the sensor control device from the sensor applicator.

A biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, including a fixation element that can be locked to a helix mount, is described. The fixation element includes a fastener that engages a keeper of the helix mount. When engaged with the keeper, the fastener locks the fixation element to the helix mount. Accordingly, the fixation element does not move relative to the helix mount when the biostimulator is delivered into a target tissue. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

A surgical cannula includes a seal structure including a one-way check valve and a cannula body. The cannula body includes an insertion portion having a distal opening that is configured to be inserted into tissue, and a receiving portion that includes a proximal opening and is configured to reversibly receive the seal structure. In addition, the seal structure is configured to removably associate with the proximal opening of the cannula body, retain a positive pressure within the cannula body when engaged with the cannula body, and retain a positive pressure within the cannula body when an object is inserted through the cannula and the seal structure. Also, the cannula further includes one or more suture attachment structures extending outward laterally from the cannula body; and one or more internal recesses in an inner wall of the cannula located directly adjacent to the one or more suture attachment structures.

An electrical lead for implantation in a patient is disclosed. The electrical lead can include a distal portion configured to split apart into sub-portions that travel in multiple directions during implantation into the patient and an electrode extension that increases a distance between an electrode and one or more other electrodes on the distal portion of the lead and/or facilitates contact of the electrode with patient tissue.

Disclosed is a brain implant placement apparatus, which includes a base member contoured to rest against a cranium of a patient. The brain implant apparatus including a pivot arm hingedly coupled to the base member and configured to rotate from a first configuration to a second configuration. The brain implant placement apparatus including an implant attachment member coupled to the pivot arm via a rotating attachment mechanism and further comprising a receiving portion configured to removably couple with a brain implant and rotate the brain implant. In the first configuration, the pivot arm is positioned such that the receiving portion of the implant attachment member is facing upward. In the second configuration, the pivot arm is positioned such that the receiving portion of the implant attachment member is facing substantially downwards.