A surgical stapling device includes an anvil assembly and a replaceable cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a knife blade and upper and lower alignment pins for retaining tissue between anvil and cartridge assemblies to ensure that the knife blade cuts cleanly through tissue. The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge body having guide structure for guiding the cartridge assembly onto a clamp slide assembly of the stapling device.

In some examples, a medical assembly includes a catheter and a delivery-assist tool. The catheter includes an elongated body comprising a proximal body portion and a distal body portion and defining a body inner lumen; and an expandable member located at the distal body portion, the expandable member defining an expandable member inner lumen. The delivery-assist tool includes a support structure configured to extend through the body inner lumen and the expandable member inner lumen of the catheter; and a flexible cover coupled to a distal portion of the support structure, wherein the flexible cover is configured to facilitate compression and retention of the expandable member in a delivery configuration while being advanced through a delivery sheath and while the support structure extends through the body inner lumen and the expandable member inner lumen.

A process and system for treating an aneurysm using one or more specifically shaped endovascular coils and an intrasaccular stent/retaining device that operates to hold the one or more endovascular coils or other embolization devices within the aneurysmal sac of the aneurysm, thereby obviating the patients' need for lifetime dual anti-platelet therapy.

New shape memory polymer compositions, methods for synthesizing new shape memory polymers, and apparatus comprising an actuator and a shape memory polymer wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least a portion of the actuator. A shape memory polymer comprising a polymer composition which physically forms a network structure wherein the polymer composition has shape-memory behavior and can be formed into a permanent primary shape, re-formed into a stable secondary shape, and controllably actuated to recover the permanent primary shape. Polymers have optimal aliphatic network structures due to minimization of dangling Chains by using monomers that are symmetrical and that have matching amine and hydroxl groups providing polymers and polymer foams with clarity, tight (narrow temperature range) single transitions, and high shape recovery and recovery force that are especially useful for implanting in the human body.

New shape memory polymer compositions, methods for synthesizing new shape memory polymers, and apparatus comprising an actuator and a shape memory polymer wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least a portion of the actuator. A shape memory polymer comprising a polymer composition which physically forms a network structure wherein the polymer composition has shape-memory behavior and can be formed into a permanent primary shape, re-formed into a stable secondary shape, and controllably actuated to recover the permanent primary shape. Polymers have optimal aliphatic network structures due to minimization of dangling chains by using monomers that are symmetrical and that have matching amine and hydroxl groups providing polymers and polymer foams with clarity, tight (narrow temperature range) single transitions, and high shape recovery and recovery force that are especially useful for implanting in the human body.

Apparatus and methods are provided for occluding blood vessels and other anatomical structures. Occlusion devices are delivered percutaneously and extraluminally through a small gauge needle and include expandable elements that are deployable on opposite sides of a target vessel to be occluded. When positioned about the vessel the elements are expanded and brought together to compress and occlude the vessel. Embodiments include those adapted for temporary as well as permanent use.

A medical device for approximating and securing tissue without requiring knots includes a lock-head, a strap section, distal protuberance, and a leader section. The device also includes a transition section between the leader and the strap section and a stiffening section proximal to the protuberance. The leader section is used to draw the strap section into the body through small apertures in tissue and the transition section provides a gradual transition in stiffness and size between the leader and the strap section.

A staple cartridge comprising staple drivers including stability supports is disclosed.

A surgical instrument comprising a rotatable and translatable firing member is disclosed.

Disclosed is an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector with a cartridge having an asymmetric cartridge body.