A surgical staple comprising a substrate and one or more coatings which slows the bioabsorption of the substrate. The coating can be selected so as to affect the environment surrounding the staple once the staple is implanted in the patient. The effect on the environment can cause the bioabsorption to occur within a desired time frame.

Various embodiments provide an electrosurgical resector tool comprising: a shaft defining a lumen; an energy conveying structure for carrying electromagnetic (EM) energy through the lumen of the shaft; an instrument tip mounted at a distal end of the shaft. The instrument tip comprises: a static portion comprising a first blade element; and a movable portion comprising a second blade element, wherein the movable portion is movable relative to the static portion between a closed position in which the first blade element and second blade element lie alongside each other to an open position in which the second blade element is spaced from the first blade element by a gap for receiving biological tissue. The instrument tip also includes a travel limiting mechanism operable to limit a maximum extent of relative movement between the second blade element and the first blade element in the open position and/or the closed position. The instrument tip further includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a planar dielectric body, the first and second electrodes being spaced apart and electrically isolated from each other by the planar dielectric body, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are connected to the energy conveying structure for delivery of the EM energy from the instrument tip. The tool further comprises an actuator for controlling relative movement between the movable portion and the static portion.

An apparatus for treating obesity comprises a volume filling device formed by at least two segments and is provided and following implantation, the device is placed resting against the stomach wall of the patient to reduce the inner volume of the stomach, thereby affecting the patients appetite.

A surgical device includes a housing, and internal components that are lubricated. The housing is formed from sections that are joined together to enclose the internal components. The surgical device includes one or more filters that are compressed between the housing sections and/or received in voids of the housing to contain the lubricant within the housing of the device. In aspects of the disclosure, the filter is formed of a material or materials that absorb the lubricant but allow passage of steam or water.

An exemplary embodiment relates to a bearing assembly (40) for a swash plate (14) in a steering gear component (33), wherein the swash plate (14) is arranged such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation (10) in a radial bearing which is located in a receiving opening (330) of the steering gear component (33). The radial bearing is a sliding bearing (35) and the bearing assembly (40) has at least one axial securing device (36) which is arranged axially adjacent to a first side of the swash plate (14) and engages with the steering gear component (33). Furthermore, a surgical instrument (1) is disclosed that has this bearing assembly (40) of a swash plate (14) in a steering gear component (33).

Exclusion devices for anatomical structures, and related instruments and related methods, are disclosed. An exclusion device for an anatomical structure may include a first beam, a second beam, and/or a first spring operatively coupled to the first beam and the second beam to exert a closing force on the first beam and the second beam. The first spring may be generally U-shaped and/or may include a first end portion and a second end portion generally opposite a connecting portion.

A medical device includes a medical instrument guide. The medical instrument guide includes a guide body, The guide body includes a foam and a bore through the foam. The foam includes a plurality of open cells that hold a biocompatible lubricant. And, the bore is sized to receive a medical instrument shaft and is defined at least in part by a surface exposing the plurality of open cells holding the biocompatible lubricant to the medical instrument shaft.

A drive shaft (1, 3) for use with a rotation device (10, 20) includes an outer layer (11, 31) and an inner layer (12, 32). The outer layer is a tubular structure, and the inner layer is accommodated in a space defined by the outer layer and defines a central lumen (13, 33) for receiving therein an external mechanism. The outer layer is rotatable about the central lumen, and the inner layer is rollable relative to both the outer layer and the external mechanism and thus allows rolling friction to occur between the drive shaft and the external mechanism. Such a structure of the drive shaft can reduce friction between the drive shaft and a guidewire as well as loss due to such friction, avoiding failure of the guidewire due to excessive friction between the guidewire and the drive shaft. Therefore, it is ensured that the drive shaft is suitable for use with guidewires commonly used in clinical practice, resulting in improved surgical operability and lower surgical cost. Also disclosed is a rotation device including an instrument (2, 4) and the drive shaft. The instrument is disposed at one end of the drive shaft and is coupled to the outer layer of the drive shaft so as to be able to be driven by the outer layer to rotate.

A rotational atherectomy device advanceable over a guidewire. The rotational atherectomy device includes a drive shaft rotatably extending through an outer tubular member to rotate a cutting member positioned at a distal end thereof. The rotational atherectomy device further includes an insert positioned within the cutting member for frictional contact with the guidewire.

Vaso-occlusive apparatuses, including implants, and methods of using them to treat aneurysms. For example, described herein are expandable vaso-occlusive implants that include one or more soft and expandable braided member coupled to a pushable member such as a coil that maybe inserted and retrieved from within an aneurism using a delivery catheter. In particular, the expandable implants described herein are configured to allow relatively soft and elongate implants to be pushed out of a cannula without binding up within the cannula.