Disclosed herein are apparatuses, systems, kits, and methods for treating skin, such as skin tightening or for treating diseases, disorders, and conditions that would benefit from tissue area or volume reduction, skin restoration, skin tightening, skin lifting, and/or skin repositioning and/or for generally improving skin function or appearance (e.g., the removal of unwanted skin features or irregularities such as sebaceous glands, sweat glands, hair follicles, necrosis, and fibrosis). Such apparatuses, systems, kits, and methods comprise an apparatus having a handheld main body and a detachably attachable tip comprising one or more needles.

A vapor delivery system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vapor delivery system is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, or denature the prostate. In some embodiments, the vapor delivery system can include safety features including prostate capsule detection, needle tracking, and treatment tracking. Methods for safe and effective treatment of prostate tissues are presented.

An apparatus for treating obesity in a human or animal mammal patient. The apparatus comprising a first volume filling device segment and a second volume filling device segment. The first and second volume filling device segments are adapted to be assembled into an implantable volume filling device of a controlled size. Each one of the first and second volume filling device segment comprises at least one interconnecting structure. The interconnecting structure of the second volume filling device segment is adapted to be formed fitted, such that the first and second volume filling device segment can be assembled into the volume filling device. The assembled volume filling device is adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of a patient, with the outer surface of the device resting against the stomach wall, such that the volume of the food cavity is reduced in size.

A combined system for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures includes a needle extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough, the distal end including a sharp grind for cutting a tissue sample to be collected in the lumen of the needle and a protective sheath sized and shaped to be inserted through the lumen of the needle such that a distal end of the protective sheath extends distally past the distal end of the needle, the protective sheath extending longitudinally from a proximal end to the distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough.

An apparatus for insertion into a body through a working channel of an endoscope includes a catheter including a dilator, a guide tube disposed in a lumen of the catheter, and a handle including a puncturing actuator operatively coupled to the proximal end of the guide tube. The dilator may be a cautery device and/or a balloon. The apparatus may also include a stylet needle that includes a cutting distal end for puncturing tissue and extends through a lumen in the guide tube. The handle may further include a stopper detachably coupled to the puncturing actuator to fix a position of the puncturing actuator on the handle, and moveable on the handle independently of the puncturing actuator when detached from the puncturing actuator. The disclosed embodiments also include a method for forming a passageway in a wall of a hollow body organ using the apparatus.

Medical guidewire assembly is movable through guidewire introducer positionable proximate to a biological wall located within the body of a patient. Medical guidewire assembly has flexible distal shaft section configured to extend along the guidewire introducer. Medical guidewire assembly has a predetermined spatial geometry once the flexible distal shaft section is removed from guidewire introducer. Medical guidewire assembly also has a piercing stylet device configured to puncture the biological wall in response to placement of guidewire introducer (in use) proximate to the biological wall, and movement of the flexible distal shaft section through the guidewire introducer. The predetermined spatial geometry is configured to prevent physical contact between the piercing stylet device and adjacently positioned tissue of the patient in response to formation of the predetermined spatial geometry.

A medical guidewire assembly is movable through an exit portal of a guidewire introducer. The guidewire introducer and the medical guidewire assembly are each insertable, at least in part, into a patient. The medical guidewire assembly is configured to reduce, at least in part, the hoop stress surrounding a puncture hole extending through the tissue of the patient. This is done in response to movement, at least in part, of the medical guidewire assembly relative to the puncture hole (after the puncture hole has been initially formed).

Methods and systems for improving the competency of a venous valve wherein one or more compressor(s) (e.g., space occupying material(s) or implantable device(s)) is/are delivered to one or more location(s) adjacent to a venous valve to compress the venous valve in a manner that causes one or both leaflets of the valve to move toward the other, thereby improving closure or coaptation of the valve leaflets. The compressor(s) may be delivered by an open surgical approach, by a direct percutaneous approach or by a transluminal catheter-based approach.

A method is provided for puncturing a fossa ovalis of a heart, the method including inserting a catheter into a right atrium of the heart, and advancing a distal portion of the catheter toward an interatrial septum of the heart. A flexible longitudinal member is slid through openings disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, such that the flexible longitudinal member is made to loop around a portion of an inside perimeter of the fossa ovalis. While the flexible longitudinal member is looped around the portion of the inside perimeter of the fossa ovalis, a hole is punctured in the fossa ovalis at a puncturing point.

The present disclosure provides an access system having a maneuverable catheter assembly configured for providing access to and navigating a desired vessel for subsequent treatment thereof. The access system includes an adjustable delivery handle assembly and an access catheter subassembly having a maneuverable access catheter configured to be delivered to desired site (e.g., within duodenum) to assist in treatment of a condition (e.g., drainage of a bile ducts via Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Biliary Drainage (EUS-BD) techniques). The access catheter includes at least a distal section having an adjustable portion along a length thereof configured to transition to a pre-defined arcuate shape to provide directional control over the distal end of the catheter as it is navigated through a vessel (e.g., bile duct). The handle assembly includes additional elements configured to allow a clinician to maneuver and manipulate the distal end of the access catheter.