Tissue-cutting devices and methods thereof, where a tissue-cutting device is coupleable with a needle used to define a needle tract. The tissue-cutting device includes a blade that cuts the skin during insertion of the device in a needle track to enlarge to needle tract. The tissue-cutting device can be configured for lateral separation from an elongate medical device (e.g., a guidewire). The tissue-cutting device can include a channel for receiving the elongate medical device. The channel can be configured to (i) retain the elongate medical device within the channel in the absence of a deliberate action by the clinician and (ii) facilitate lateral removal of the elongate medical device from the channel in response to the deliberate action. A needle assembly includes a needle coupled with the tissue-cutting device. The tissue-cutting device may include a sheath extending along a distal portion of the tissue-cutting device.

A catheter placement system including a removable skin nicking device coupled with a catheter, e.g., a Rapidly Insertable Central Catheter. The skin nicking device includes a handle and a blade extending therefrom. The blade is disposed within a notch extending along a dilation section of the catheter. The blade includes a radially outward directed sharp edge configured to cut the skin adjacent a catheter insertion site. A distal end of the blade is disposed within the notch to prevent a skin bridge during insertion of the catheter. A needle is inserted into an access lumen of the catheter via a needle access port and an access guidewire is disposed within a lumen of the needle. An advancement guidewire is also disposed within the access lumen.

A subcutaneous implant removal device designed to work with a variety of cylindrical implants. The implant removal device comprises a non-planar base. The non-planar base is dimensioned to be placed onto the epidermal surface of a patient's skin. The base has a proximal end and a distal end. When placed on the patient's skin, the proximal end slopes upward while the distal end slopes downward along the patient's skin. The subcutaneous implant removal device also includes a pinnacle. The pinnacle extends upward from the non-planar base and has a front face and a rear face. The front face of the pinnacle is dimensioned to receive a force from a thumb of a clinician, holding the removal device in place on the patient's skin during use. A method for removing a subcutaneous implant is also provided.

This document describes methods and materials for reducing incision sizes for improving the treatment of pathological conditions, including arrhythmias and trauma, using temperature modulation via implantable devices. For example, this document describes methods and devices for treating atrial and/or ventricular fibrillation by cooling the epicardium.

Embodiments include a method comprising determining histological factors at a target site of a subject, and determining parameters of a fractional resection based on the histological factors. The parameters include dimensionality of a fractional field, orientation of the fractional field, resection depth, and a vector of directed closure. The method includes configuring a cannula assembly for the fractional resection that includes a procedure to generate a fractional field at the target site by fractionally resecting tissue according to the parameters. The fractional resection includes applying a cannula array of the cannula assembly to the target site, and rotating at least one cannula of the cannula array to circumferentially incise and remove a plurality of skin plugs in the fractional field.

A system of devices and methods for use by which one or more target motion segments of the cervical spine are stabilized without any violation of the cortical bone of the target vertebrae. The devices are brought against strategic aspects of these vertebrae, thus permitting the disclosed inventions to achieve secure control of each vertebra. Connecting elements then stabilize the constructs. Preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention are disclosed, along with methods of implantation, and adjunct devices used in the implantation of the disclosed invention.

Examples of catheter devices, removable needle devices and kits are disclosed. Also methods for accessing a hollow organ are disclosed. The catheter devices include a body extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the body includes an elongated channel along the longitudinal length of the body extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the body, wherein the channel is configured to receive an elongated needle of a removable needle device, and the body includes one or more cutting edges extending in a proximal direction from a distal end of the body. The body of the catheter device includes one or more recesses adapted to mate with one or more catches of the needle device for coupling the needle device to the catheter device. Methods of using the catheters, removable needle devices and the kits are also disclosed.