Disclosed herein are devices (e.g., needles (e.g., hollow needles), hollow staples, articles, apparatuses, and systems), kits, and methods for treating skin and skin conditions, for example, by promoting skin tightening, such as by reducing skin laxity and reducing tissue area or volume.

A system for harvesting a tendon graft is disclosed, including a retractor, a guide and a harvesting tool. The retractor is collapsible and upon release, becomes self-supporting to hold open an anatomic space developed in a patient above the tendon. A guide assembles with the retractor to orient a guide shaft along the retractor and thereby the anatomic space. The harvesting tool includes a working end with a blade edge for cutting into the tendon. The harvesting tool defines a contoured surface for engaging and translating along the guide shaft while assembled to the retractor. The guide shaft and contoured surface limit the trajectory and translation extent of the harvesting tool along and into the tendon.

An atrio-septostomy balloon catheter device for creating an unrestrictive atrial septal defect in a thick atrial septum. The device comprises a balloon directed by an axis and a plurality of cones, wherein each of the plurality of cones has a hollow conical body, and is connected at a base thereof to a proximal side of the balloon. Preferably, the device comprises two or four cones, located equidistantly about the axis of the balloon. The plurality of cones is configured to hit the atrial septum at the same time and exert the maximal safe force on the septum for tearing it.

Devices for removing implanted objects from body vessels are provided. A device includes a sheath assembly having a cutting tip. The cutting tip includes a cutting surface that is adapted to cut tissue coupled to an implanted object as the cutting tip rotates. The sheath assembly further includes an outer shield carried outside of the cutting tip. The outer shield includes a distal opening, and the outer shield is translatable relative to the cutting tip from a first position to a second position and vice versa. In the first position the cutting surface of the cutting tip is disposed within the outer shield, and in the second position the cutting tip extends through the distal opening and the cutting surface is at least partially disposed outside of the outer shield.

A method of removing tissue in a body lumen includes advancing a tissue-removing catheter over a guidewire in the body lumen to position a distal end of the catheter adjacent the tissue and a proximal end portion of the catheter outside of the body lumen. The catheter includes an elongate body, a tissue removing element mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body, and an inner liner disposed within the elongate body. The inner liner defines a guidewire lumen in which the guidewire is disposed during the advancement of the catheter. The method further includes rotating the elongate body and tissue-removing element of the catheter to remove the tissue. Detecting wear of the inner liner caused by the elongate body contacting the inner liner during use.

A tissue dissector includes a handle assembly including an actuator, a head portion including a blade member defining an aperture configured to receive tissue therethrough, and a lighting assembly configured to provide lighting to the aperture of the blade member. The blade member is operatively coupled with the actuator for rotation about the aperture.

A method and device for perforating an aortic valve to remove excessive calcium deposits on aortic valve leaflets improves the implantation of TAVI replacement valves in patients. By removing excessive calcium deposits, the radial pressure exerted by implanted TAVI replacement valves is reduced, such that there is less blood leakage around the valve and less stress on the cardiac conductive system. A device with a collapsible punch is inserted into the aortic valve. The punch is separable such that the aortic valve leaflets are positioned between at least two elements of the punch. The two elements then compress together with the leaflets between them, causing the aortic valve to be perforated. A circumferential ring of the remaining aortic valve and calcium deposits are left to provide stability for the TAVI replacement valve.

A device and method for treating a patient with total or near total occlusion is provided. The device can be positioned in a blood vessel at a treatment site. An occlusion at the treatment site is enlarged by a catheter. The catheter can be advanced over a guidewire into the occlusion. One or more of [a] compression or torsion applied to the guidewire or [b] compression or torsion applied to the catheter body expands or creates a path through the occlusion. The expansions or creation of the access path can be by cutting or abrading the occlusion or by a shoe-horn effect.

A method for performing a corneal transplantation comprising the steps of: inserting at least part of a corneal implant into the anterior chamber of the eye, the corneal implant comprising an implant portion and a manipulating portion, the manipulating portion comprising non-endothelial tissue; positioning the implant portion of the implant to adhere to the posterior surface of the cornea using the manipulating portion.

Methods and systems are provided useful in various procedures, including hair harvesting and implantation, and further including computer-implemented and/or robotic hair transplantation. Methodologies are provided which enable a tool, such as a hair harvesting or a hair implantation tool, to proceed at least under a partial computer control in a selected direction of travel along a donor or recipient area of the patient, as well as changing direction of travel based on desired harvesting and/or implantation criteria.