A radiopaque frame is transluminally advanced to an atrium of a heart of a subject. The frame is expanded within a valve adjacent the atrium such that part of the frame remains disposed in the atrium. While the frame remains expanded within the valve, progressive portions of an annuloplasty structure are progressively positioned and anchored around the annulus using multiple anchors by, for each of the anchors sequentially (i) while fluoroscopically imaging the frame and a distal end of a delivery tool, and facilitated by mechanical guidance from the frame, positioning the distal end of the delivery tool between the frame and a wall of the atrium; and (ii) driving the anchor into the annulus laterally from the frame. Subsequently, the frame is contracted and withdrawn from the subject while leaving the annuloplasty structure anchored around the annulus. Other embodiments are also described.

Systems and methods for reducing pathogens near an implant are discussed. In some cases, the methods include reducing contaminants in a portion of a patient that has an implant and that is disposed interior to a closed surface of skin of the patient. The method can further include placing a conduit in the closed surface of skin and flowing an antimicrobial fluid into that portion of the patient to contact the antimicrobial fluid with a surface of the implant and tissue adjacent to the implant. In some cases, the antimicrobial fluid is then removed from the portion of the patient having the implant. As part of this method, biofilm near the implant can be mechanically, ultrasonically, electrically, chemically, enzymatically, or otherwise disrupted. Other implementations are described.

Methods and devices for removing non-viable tissue at a treatment situs are described. The method can include administering a selective biofilm stain dye to the treatment situs at a dilution that selectively stains non-viable tissue compared to viable tissue at a selectivity ratio that provides a visually identifiable separation between the non-viable tissue and the viable tissue. The selective biofilm stain dye is diluted in water to a concentration of from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL. The method can also include visually identifying the non-viable tissue, and removing the non-viable tissue based on the visual identification.

A biofilm staining device can include an applicator having a dispense tip, a rupture lever adapted to rupture a rupturable capsule and release a selective biofilm stain dye, and a housing sized to retain the rupturable capsule and adapted to allow released selective biofilm stain dye to flow to the dispense tip.

An endoluminal punch system including a sheath and dilator. The endoluminal punch may include energy delivery system capable of being transmitted from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoluminal punch to assist with tissue crossing and incisions. The dilator may include selectively deployable cutting mechanism to create incisions in tissue that are larger than their basic external diameter. The system may also be configured to reduce the risk of generating plastic emboli during insertion of the endoluminal punch.

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.

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.

A radio-opaque composition is formulated to enable a clinician to apply custom markings to a surface, such as a patient's skin or a surgical drape on the patient. More specifically, the radio-opaque composition may be used to write on the surface. The markings may be well-defined and contrast with the surface to which they are applied. Such a composition may include a liquid radio-opaque component that includes one or more radio-opaque materials that have been dissolved in a solvent, as well as a solid radio-opaque component with particles of one or more radio-opaque materials dispersed throughout a carrier, such as the solvent of the liquid radio-opaque component. Marking apparatuses that may be used to write with the radio-opaque composition are also disclosed, as are methods for using the radio-opaque composition.

A method for performing a medical procedure in an intestine of a patient is provided. The method comprises providing a system comprising: a catheter for insertion into the intestine, the catheter comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a distal portion; and a functional assembly positioned on the shaft distal portion and comprising at least one treatment element. The catheter is introduced into the patient, and target tissue is treated with the at least one treatment element. The target tissue comprises mucosal tissue of the small intestine, and the medical procedure can be configured to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Devices and method for treating aqueous collector channels or tissue(s) associated with aqueous collector channels to improve or enhance outflow of aqueous humor from an eye thereby reducing intraocular pressure in the eye.

Described herein are systems and methods for deploying and recording electrophysiologic signals from electrode arrays located within the dura mater of the brain. The dura matter includes layers of connective tissue, or membrane, that surround the brain and spinal cord. The present disclosure relates to an endovascular electrode system deployed within the blood vessels located between layers of the dura mater, including, for example, the middle meningeal artery and its branches.