Devices and methods for treatment of a patient's vasculature are described. The device includes a self-expanding resilient permeable shell having a radially constrained state and an expanded state with a globular, axially shortened configuration. The permeable shell may be a single layer of braided elongate filaments having first and second ends that are secured at the proximal end of the permeable shell. The devices may also include permeable shells made of woven braided mesh having a variable mesh density, i.e., the average size of pores in one region are a different than the average size of pores in another region. Methods of using the device to treat a cerebral aneurysm are also described. Methods of forming a tubular braid are also described. Methods of forming a tubular braid with variable braid densities are described. Methods of forming a tubular braid using a castellated mandrel are also described.

The present invention provides a tissue closure device, comprising: a first and a second clamping base which form a cavity there between for accommodating a tubular tissue; and a pouch assembly comprises: a tying band provided with a first free end and a second free end; a first tying band buckle which is arranged adjacent to the first free end in an initial state; a second tying band buckle arranged adjacent to the second free end in an initial state, wherein the second tying band buckle is buckled with the first tying band buckle after the first and the second clamping base are closed; and a first driving mechanism which enables the first and the second tying band buckle to move synchronously after the first and the second tying band buckle are buckled and then cooperate with the tying band to gather the tubular tissue into a pouch.

Described here are devices, systems and methods for closing the left atrial appendage. Some of the methods described here utilize one or more guide members having alignment members to aid in positioning of a closure device. In general, these methods include advancing a first guide having a first alignment member into the left atrial appendage, advancing a second guide, having a second alignment member, into the pericardial space, aligning the first and second alignment members, advancing a left atrial appendage closure device into the pericardial space and adjacent to the left atrial appendage, and closing the left atrial appendage with the closure device. In these variations, the closure device typically has an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a closure element at least partially housed within the elongate body. The closure element comprises a loop defining a continuous aperture therethrough.

A surgical string applicator for anastomosis surgery is provided. The surgical string applicator includes an elongate shaft; a string applying assembly including a pair of opposing jaws connected to the elongate shaft, each jaw having an opening at its distal end, one or more surgical strings housed in the jaws in a form of an open loop with one end of the surgical string at the distal end of one jaw and an opposing end of the surgical string at the distal end of the other jaw, and a string fastening mechanism adapted to engage and fasten the surgical string around a tubular organ; and a handle portion including control mechanisms adapted to open and close at least one of the jaws and to actuate the string fastening mechanism. Further provided is an intra-lumenal position guide to be used together with the surgical string applicator.

Medical devices, systems, and methods reduce the distance between two locations in tissue in a minimally invasive manner, often for treatment of congestive heart failure. In one embodiment, an anchor of an implant system may, when the implant system is fully deployed, reside within the right ventricle in engagement with the ventricular septum. A tension member may extend from that anchor through the septum and an exterior wall of the left ventricle to a second anchor disposed along an epicardial surface of the heart. Deployment of the anchor within the right ventricle may be performed by inserting a guidewire through the septal wall into the right ventricle. The anchor may be inserted into the right ventricle over the guidewire and through a lumen of a delivery catheter. Delivering the anchor over the guidewire may provide improved control in the delivery and placement of the anchor within the right ventricle.

Embodiments described herein include devices, systems, and methods for reducing the distance between two locations in tissue. In one embodiment, an anchor may reside within the right ventricle in engagement with the septum. A tension member may extend from that anchor through the septum and an exterior wall of the left ventricle to a second anchor disposed along a surface of the heart. Perforating the exterior wall and the septum from an epicardial approach can provide control over the reshaping of the ventricular chamber. Guiding deployment of the implant from along the epicardial access path and another access path into and through the right ventricle provides control over the movement of the anchor within the ventricle. The joined epicardial pathway and right atrial pathway allows the tension member to be advanced into the heart through the right atrium and pulled into engagement along the epicardial access path.

A device for controlling blood flow occurring in a haemorrhagic zone of a biological tissue, includes a flexible plate arranged to be placed opposite this zone, the flexible plate including: substantially leaktight peripheral supporting elements, for applying on the tissue so that the zone is surrounded; a back wall delimiting, with the supporting elements, opposite the zone, a hollow space; connecting elements connecting the hollow space, externally to the flexible plate, to an external aspiration source for creating a vacuum in the hollow space for aspirating and tightly applying the surface of the tissue against the peripheral supporting elements; and a hollow stud placed between the zone and the back wall and hollowed out in its centre on the side of the zone along an axis substantially perpendicular to the back wall, and arranged to be in contact with the zone when the vacuum is created in the space.

Described here are devices, systems, and methods for closing the left atrial appendage. The methods described here utilize a closure device for closing the left atrial appendage and guides or expandable elements with ablation or abrading elements to ablate or abrade the left atrial appendage. In general, these methods include positioning a balloon at least partially within the atrial appendage, positioning a closure assembly of a closure device around an exterior of the atrial appendage, inflating the balloon, partially closing the closure assembly, ablating the interior tissue of the atrial appendage with the inflated balloon, removing the balloon from the atrial appendage, and closing the atrial appendage with the closure assembly.

Systems and methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are described. A system can include a variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, including a suture having a first thickness dimension; an elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the transition zones having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension.

According to some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for non-invasively detecting the force generated by a non-invasively adjustable implantable medical device and/or a change in dimension of a non-invasively adjustable implantable medical device. Some of the systems include a non-invasively adjustable implant, which includes a driven magnet, and an external adjustment device, which includes one or more driving magnets and one or more Hall effect sensors. The Hall effect sensors of the external adjustment device are configured to detect changes in the magnetic field between the driven magnet of the non-invasively adjustable implant and the driving magnet(s) of the external adjustment device. Changes in the magnetic fields may be used to calculate the force generated by and/or a change in dimension of the non-invasively adjustable implantable medical device.