Described here are devices, systems and methods for forming a fistula between two blood vessels. Generally, the systems may comprise a first catheter which may comprise a fistula-forming element. The fistula-forming element may comprise one or more electrodes, mechanical cutting elements, laser sources, or combinations thereof, and may be used to assist in fistula formation. In some instances, a system may comprise a second catheter, which may comprise a fistula-forming element. One or more of the catheters may comprise one or more markers, magnetic alignment elements, and/or one shape-changing elements.

A method for performing a surgical procedure includes planning a resection of a bone of a patient. A volume of the bone is removed according to the planned resection using a surgical tool. As the bone is removed, data corresponding to a shape and volume of the removed bone is tracked with a computer system operatively coupled to the surgical tool. A prosthesis is implanted onto the bone of the patient based on the tracked data corresponding to the shape of the removed bone.

A medical instrument for percutaneous release procedures, especially on upper or lower limbs, including percutaneous carpal tunnel release or percutaneous A1 pulley release. The medical instrument includes a handle portion to allow handling, orientation and manipulation of the medical instrument by a surgeon, and an elongated rod member secured to the handle portion and extending substantially within a defined plane. A first portion of the elongated rod member extends substantially along a first direction within the defined plane away from the handle portion, and a second portion of the elongated rod member is curved and/or bent within the defined plane. A free end of the elongated rod member, at a terminal end of the second portion, may be shaped as a beveled end including a beveled surface, which beveled end acts as a cutting device to severe tissue, and the beveled surface being inclined with respect to the defined plane.

An anchor guide includes an elongate shaft, an atraumatic tip, a channel defined at least in part by the elongate shaft and configured to retain a suture associated with an anchor, and a spacing feature configured to provide a spacing distance between the channel and a device disposed in physical contact with the spacing feature.

Markers, medical instruments, and/or medical devices have a composition and/or other features or characteristics such that they will generate twinkling artifacts when imaged with ultrasound. In this way, the markers, medical instruments, and/or medical devices can be detected and localized using ultrasound. Ultrasound technical specifications that are optimized to generate twinkling artifact signatures are selected and used to facilitate localization of such markers, instruments, and/or devices.

A method of performing a transperineal biopsy procedure including the steps of: inserting an access needle into one of a plurality of needle receiving ports of a displacement member of a transperineal biopsy guide that is secured to the transrectal ultrasound probe; securing the access needle to the displacement member such that a position of the access needle relative to the displacement member is maintained; imaging the prostate of the patient with the transrectal ultrasound probe; inserting the access needle into the perineal access site of the patient; and inserting the biopsy needle through the access needle and into the prostate of the patient.

Methods, devices and systems are described for treating venous insufficiency in which the vein is compressed at least partially along a treatment zone. A system can be provided including an injection device, such as a glue gun, that is operably connected to a delivery catheter that can be advanced across a treatment zone in the vein. The delivery catheter can be used to deliver one, two, or more boluses of media (e.g., cyanoacrylate) to occlude the vein along different spaced-apart sections of the treatment zone. External compression can also be applied to the vein by a compression element, such as a hand or multifunctional ultrasound transducer, to occlude portions of the vein along the treatment zone prior to or during the introduction of the boluses of media.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for assisting or performing guided interventional procedures using custom templates. The system uses pre-procedure scans of a patient's anatomy to identify targets and critical structures. A template is then manufactured containing guide elements. During a procedure, the template may be aligned to the patient and instruments passed though the guide elements and into various targets. The template may be aligned using one or more of, for example, a position sensing system or a live imaging modality to register the patient to the template. The system makes optional use of devices designed to immobilize or track an organ during therapy.

Marking device (100) for implantation into a tissue (260), having a support structure (102) which is formed by at least one elastic metal wire, is compressible and is self-expanding and which, in an expanded state, encompasses an interior space (104), characterized in that the marking device (100) is designed to transform itself on its own from a compressed state into an expanded state, even against a tissue pressure prevailing at a tissue site to be marked, and the marking device (100) in the expanded state has a hollow, approximately spherical shape.

The invention relates to tissue anchor in medical procedures. More specifically the invention relates to a tethered anchor. The tethered anchor includes a tether portion (108) that is elongate and extends between a first end and a second end, the tether portion being formed of a flat film construct; and an anchor portion (106) that defines a width that is greater than a width of the tether portion, the anchor portion being integrally formed with the tether portion of the flat film construct and extending continuously from the second end of the tether portion, the anchor portion having a first aperture (402) through which the tether portion extends.