A surgical fastening device includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion, a shell assembly, a screw drive, and a firing mechanism. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The shell assembly is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, and includes a cartridge assembly and an end effector. The screw drive defines a longitudinal axis. A distal portion of the screw drive is engaged with the end effector. Rotation of the screw drive about the longitudinal axis relative to the elongated portion causes longitudinal translation of the end effector relative to the cartridge assembly. The firing mechanism is disposed at least partially within the end effector. A predetermined amount of proximal movement of the end effector relative to the cartridge assembly is configured to at least partially form fasteners disposed in the cartridge assembly.

A therapeutic device (1) has a stem (3) having a distal end (60) configured for insertion in a patient's ear canal with latching by suction to the tympanic membrane so that there is no relative movement despite patient head movement. A needle (63) punctures the membrane after suction is applied by negative pressure via a lumen (66). The needle tip is located within a suction cup which grips the membrane. A hand-held control device (2) is coupled to the stem and has a user-actuated controller (8) for controlling application of negative pressure (7) to the suction lumen.

Disclosed herein is a tissue engaging surgical tool that is configured to selectively hold or grasp a portion of tissue with a suction cup or flexible end portion. The device is configured to increase or decrease pressure between the flexible end portion and tissue that the end portion is held against, thereby creating a releasable suction or vacuum force.

A system for closing a blood vessel includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and configured to be held in the hand of a user, an elongate body extending from the distal end of the housing, a distal housing having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the elongate body and having a cavity including an opening on a side of the distal housing, a lumen passing through the elongate body and terminating at the cavity of the distal housing and configured to couple to a vacuum source, a sensor carried by the distal housing adjacent the cavity and configured for identifying a blood vessel, wherein the lumen is configured to maintain a vacuum within the cavity when a probe having a vessel closure module is inserted within the lumen and the vessel closure module is within the cavity.

A trans-xiphoid procedure for gaining entry to the chest cavity of a patient, sometimes also referred to herein as a “TRAX” procedure. The procedure may be used for, among other things, mobilization of the mammary arteries and performing coronary artery bypass surgery in which the mammary artery of the patient or other conduit is joined to a coronary artery of the patient, such as the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery.

A method for closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA), including: placing an LAA reshaper in contact with an LAA wall or near the LAA wall; invaginating at least a portion of the LAA into the left atrium (LA); reshaping by the LAA reshaper the LAA during the invagination; fastening the invaginated at least a portion of said LAA; and retracting the LAA reshaper from the LAA

The invention relates surgical abdominal methods of treating obesity in a patient by implanting a volume filling device that, when implanted in a patient, reduces the food cavity in size by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device. Also disclosed is a laparoscopic instrument for providing a volume filling device to be invaginated in the stomach wall of a human patient to treat obesity.

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 system for closing a blood vessel includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and configured to be held in the hand of a user, an elongate body extending from the distal end of the housing, a distal housing having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the elongate body and having a cavity including an opening on a side of the distal housing, a lumen passing through the elongate body and terminating at the cavity of the distal housing and configured to couple to a vacuum source, a sensor carried by the distal housing adjacent the cavity and configured for identifying a blood vessel, wherein the lumen is configured to maintain a vacuum within the cavity when a probe having a vessel closure module is inserted within the lumen and the vessel closure module is within the cavity.

Systems and methods for treating cellulite including an apparatus that applies or a method involving separating septa to eliminate or reduce the appearance of cellulite. In one approach, an interventional tool is placed between tissue layers to engage and treat septa connecting tissue layers between which fat deposits are contained.