A surgical sheath for use in endoscopic trans-nasal or intra-ocular surgery is made of a braid material. The sheath may be manufactured by placing a length of braided tube material over a mandrel. The braid material is conformed to the shape of the mandrel and is then heat set. An atraumatic end may be made by folding or rolling one or both ends of the sheath. A coating may also optionally be applied to the braid material. The sheath reduces collateral trauma to the tissues in the surgical pathway.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a device includes an anchor, a repair filament, and a connecting filament that is coupled to the repair filament, is in contact with the anchor's distal end, and is effective to connect the repair filament to the anchor such that the repair filament slides with respect to the anchor. The anchor can be rigid, and can include an axial bore extending therethrough. At least one of the repair filament and the connecting filament can extend through at least a portion of the axial bore, and the bore can be sized such that a portion of the filament extending therethrough barely fits to help maintain the connection between the anchor, repair filament, and connecting filament. Embodiments of the systems and devices disclosed can be used in a number of methods for repairing soft tissue.

A lithotripter tip configured for use within an invasive lithotripter probe may include a lithotripter tip body dimensioned and configured to be threaded through a human vein or artery of a patient and delivered to a position directly adjacent to a concretion within the patient. The lithotripter tip body may define an interior region in communication with an aperture at a distal end of the lithotripter tip body and the lithotripter tip body may define at least one port in communication with the interior region that is configured to receive a liquid and provide a path for the liquid to flow into the interior region of the body. A first electrode and a second electrode are positioned within the interior region of the lithotripter tip such that such that when liquid from the at least one port is within the interior region and an electric arc occurs between the ends of the first and second electrodes, a gaseous bubble forms within the interior region and a resulting shockwave travels out of the aperture at the distal end of the lithotripter tip body and impacts the concretion positioned directly adjacent to the lithotripter tip body.

Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the stapling assembly includes a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein and a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. Adjunct systems for use with a surgical stapler are also provided. Surgical end effectors using the stapling assemblies are also provided. Methods for manufacturing stapling assemblies and using the same are also provided.

A vaginal manipulator includes a head, a tissue index, a door, and a head extender. The head has a first end connected to a shaft and a distal end opposite of the first end. The tissue index is disposed laterally across the head and is adapted to slide in a longitudinal direction between the first end and the distal end of the head. The door has a pivot portion attached to a distal portion of the head and a free portion that is movable away from the head. The head extender includes a post that is insertable into an orifice formed in the distal end of the head.

This application describes a braided cord containing a braided sheath and optionally a core surrounded by the braided sheath. The braided cord has changing cross-sectional area ranging from 0.0004 mm.sup.2 to 30 mm.sup.2 and contains one or more sections having a tapering angle ranging from 1° to 60° when observed in one direction along the cord axis. The change in the cross-sectional area of the cord can be achieved by changing the thickness of the braided sheath and/or changing the cross-sectional area of the core when the core is present. The thickness of the braided sheath can be adjusted by changing the size and/or twist level of one or more sheath strands, changing the pick count of the braided sheath, and/or using one or more shaped sheath strands. This application also describes a process of producing the braided cord with changing cross-sectional area.

A distal aspiration catheter comprises catheter body having a central lumen and at least one luminal channel. An aspiration source is configured to attach to a proximal end/luer hub of the central lumen. Each luminal channel includes one mandrel and a distal portion of the mandrel extends into a distal portion in the central lumen. When the aspiration source is activated, a clot/emboli lodged in a blood vessel is partially ingested into the distal portion of the central lumen. The distal portion of the mandrel can move into the partially ingested clot to induce clot fatigue. The fatigued clot can be removed completely by a single pass of the distal aspiration catheter.

There is provided an energy device for surgical operation capable of suppressing fixation of body tissue, wherein a coating layer is formed on an outer periphery of a base material constituting an operational area portion transmitting energy in an energy device for surgical operation operating in the operational area portion, and is comprised of a base coating formed on the base material and an outermost coating formed on the base coating. The base coating is made from silicon oxide or a compound containing silicon oxide, and the outermost coating is made from polysiloxane or a compound containing polysiloxane or a compound containing a partly fluorinated polysiloxane, and the coating layer has a good adhesiveness and is applicable to a complicated form.

A system for accessing a central pulmonary artery includes an elongate, flexible tubular catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end and a catheter hub on the proximal end. An elongate, flexible rail has a proximal end, a distal end and a rail hub on the proximal end. The rail has a distal advance segment which extends at least about 10 cm beyond the distal end of the catheter when the catheter hub is adjacent the rail hub.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of using peristalsis to force a polymer plug through a mammalian lumen, thereby removing any calculi and/or calculi fragments present in the lumen. In one embodiment, the method is used as an alternative to conventional lithotripsy. In another embodiment, the method is used in conjunction with lithotripsy, thereby removing the small calculi fragments that result from such procedures.