A method for capturing an object in a cavity in a patient is described. The method includes advancing a ureteroscope into the cavity containing the object. A basket is advanced through a working channel of the ureteroscope. The basket is opened within the cavity and is positioned so as to enclose the object. Then, two actions are performed simultaneously. The basket is collapsed while simultaneously the basket tool is advanced forward so that the object remains within the basket, ideally near the center of the basket, as the basket closes around the object. Once the object is captured, the basket is retracted to remove the object out of the cavity. Further, this process may be automated by having the method carried out by robotic arms acting in tandem, with one or more robotic arms advancing the basket tool or ureteroscope, and another robotic arm collapsing the basket.

A side-firing laser system with a standoff catheter includes an optical fiber configured to emit therapeutic laser radiation in a direction generally transverse to an axis of the fiber; and a catheter through which the optical fiber is inserted during a surgical procedure. The catheter includes a transparent end section through which the therapeutic laser radiation passes to vaporize tissue outside the catheter, an open distal end to permit exit of irrigation fluid from the catheter, and an opening in a side of the end section, the opening having dimensions that are approximately equal to or less than cross-sectional dimensions of the therapeutic laser radiation. When the fiber is moved to a position at which the therapeutic laser radiation passes through the opening, the laser radiation causes coagulation or vaporization of tissues.

Devices and methods for the treatment of heart conditions, hypertension, and other medical disorders are described. For example, this document describes devices and methods for treating atrial fibrillation by performing thoracic vein ablation procedures, including pulmonary vein myocardium ablation. In some embodiments, the ablation is performed in coordination with the delivery a pharmacological agent that can abate the formation of tissue stenosis or neointimal hyperplasia caused by the ablation. Additionally, in some embodiments, particulate matter, such as thrombus or crystalline drug compounds, created during the ablation is captured and removed from the patient using devices and methods provided herein. Further, devices and methods for non-thermal methods of causing cell death, such as tissue suction and tissue stretching, are also described.

A system is disclosed that includes an optical fiber including a first optical module and a gate. The gate can be capable of moving between closed and opened states to form a slit. At least one storage medium can be included having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to carry out a method including directing light from the first optical module through the slit onto the stone to form a pair of lines with a spacing between the pair of lines; and determining a size of the stone, based on a distance from a distal tip of the optical fiber and the spacing between the pair of lines.

An integrated ablation needle (100), comprising a cannula (10) and an electrode needle (20) that is movably and penetratingly installed within the cannula (10); the electrode needle (20) comprises a needle tip (21) located at the far end and a needle rod (23) connected to the near end of the needle tip (21); at least a portion that is near to the needle tip (21) of the needle rod (23) is provided with a sampling groove (231); and the far end of the cannula (10) is provided with a cutting edge (11). The cannula (10) moves along the axial direction relative to the needle rod (23) so as to expose or cover the sampling groove; when the sampling groove (231) is exposed, a tissue portion around the needle rod (23) enters the sampling groove (231); and when the sampling groove (231) is covered, the cutting edge (11) cuts off tissue inside and outside of the sampling groove (231), such that the tissue within the sampling groove (231) is acquired as a biopsy sample. Further provided is an ablation system (1000) comprising an integrated ablation needle (100). The integrated ablation needle (100) and the ablation system (1000) integrate ablation and biopsy functions on the same ablation needle (100), without needing to independently execute a biopsy step, thus avoiding repeated puncturing, reducing damage to the human body, and reducing operation time.

The devices and methods described herein include an implantable body lumen fluid flow modulator including an upstream flow accelerator separated by a gap from a downstream flow decelerator. The gap is a pathway to entrain additional fluid from a branch lumen(s) into the fluid stream flowing from the upstream flow accelerator to the downstream flow decelerator.

Methods, systems, devices, assemblies and apparatuses for treatment of hypertension in a patient using renal denervation. The therapeutic assembly includes an energy delivery element. The energy delivery element is configured to provide renal denervation energy to a nerve within a blood vessel of a patient. The therapeutic assembly includes a controller. The controller is coupled to the energy delivery element. The controller is configured to determine that the hypertension in the patient is orthostatic. The controller is configured to apply renal denervation energy to the patient using the energy delivery element.

Systems and methods for controlling an irrigation flow rate during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser configured for lithotripsy procedure, a lithotripsy irrigation system, and a temperature sensor configured to provide input to enable control of a flow of the lithotripsy irrigation system in response to a change in temperature from the operation of the laser.

Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for treatment of varicocele and associated conditions. In some embodiments, systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can include forming one or more fluid connections or fistulas between blood vessels such as a gonadal vein (e.g., spermatic vein, ovarian vein) and surrounding veins. In some embodiments, systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can include occluding one or more blood vessels such as a gonadal vein (e.g., spermatic vein, ovarian vein). In some embodiments, systems, apparatus and methods described herein relate to flow diverters, replacement valves, etc., e.g., for treatment of varicocele and associated conditions.

Neuromodulation catheter systems with controlled irrigation capabilities and methods for using such systems are disclosed herein. One such method includes, for example, positioning an irrigated neuromodulation catheter at a treatment site within a renal blood vessel of a human patient, delivering neuromodulation energy at the treatment site, and delivering irrigation fluid to the treatment site having characteristics coordinated with the delivered energy. The characteristics can be adjusted to maintain an energy delivery element and/or tissue of the blood vessel at a constant temperature as power is increased. The method can further include monitoring at least one parameter of the tissue and/or of the energy delivery element, and adjusting the neuromodulation energy and/or the characteristics of the irrigation fluid if the at least one parameter falls outside of a treatment range of values.