The present invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for trans-septally delivering carbon dioxide through a minimally invasive catheter to create a gaseous pocket or emphysema between the posterior wall of the left atrium and the esophagus during cardiac ablation of the left atrium. This pocket of gas expanded tissue serves to thermally insulate and separate the esophagus from the left atrium during ablation to prevent the formation of an atrial-esophageal fistula. The system comprises a control system to precisely deliver the gas to a desired location through a needle-based catheter assembly.

A surgical protective equipment includes: a first boundary surface having a horseshoe shape in a plan view; a second boundary surface disposed face-to-face with the first boundary surface and having a horseshoe shape in a plan view; an inner surface disposed between the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface, and forming a groove by connecting an inner end of the first boundary surface and an inner end of the second boundary surface to each other; and an outer surface connecting an outer end of the first boundary surface and an outer end of the second boundary surface, wherein a surgical incision area is inserted in the groove.

Methods for collapsing a tubular organ, such as the esophagus, involve inserting a device into the tubular organ, at least partially sealing off a section of the tubular organ, and drawing in the wall of the tubular organ by application of suction. The devices may be used to move the wall of the tubular organ away from an area undergoing treatment or therapy, such as to minimize damage to the tubular organ by application of radiofrequency energy or to limit temperature increase of the tubular organ.

A treatment of obstructive lung disease includes aiming a condensable vapor towards the airway wall, causing a band-shaped lesion to grow to a depth into the airway wall. Ablation parameters are set to control the depth of the band-shaped lesion to encompass the epithelial layer and exclude the smooth muscle layer of the airway. A wide variety of configurations of the vapor delivery are described to create ablation patterns in the airways of the patient with particular emphasis on treating chronic bronchitis.

A deflection system for deflecting a body lumen that includes a deflection mechanism, wherein the deflection mechanism includes: a beam having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the beam includes a neutral position and a deflected position, a pull wire coupled to the distal end of the beam, wherein the beam is configured to be placed in the deflected position when a tension force is applied to the pull wire, and wherein at least a portion of the pull wire is configured to move to a displacement distance away from the beam when the tension force is applied to the pull wire, and one or more constraint members operatively coupled to the beam, wherein each one of the one or more constraint members is configured to limit the displacement distance of the pull wire from the beam when the tension force is applied to the pull wire.

A treatment of obstructive lung disease includes aiming a condensable vapor towards the airway wall, causing a band-shaped lesion to grow to a depth into the airway wall. Ablation parameters are set to control the depth of the band-shaped lesion to encompass the epithelial layer and exclude the smooth muscle layer of the airway. A wide variety of configurations of the vapor delivery are described to create ablation patterns in the airways of the patient with particular emphasis on treating chronic bronchitis.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided in which movement of a tool is controlled based on sensed parameters. In one embodiment, an electromechanical tool is provided having an instrument shaft and an end effector formed thereon. The electromechanical tool is configured to be mounted on an electromechanical arm, and the electromechanical tool is configured to move with or relative to the electromechanical arm and perform surgical functions. A controller is operatively coupled to the electromechanical arm and the electromechanical tool and is configured to retard advancement of the electromechanical tool toward a tissue surface based on a sensed amount of displacement of a tissue surface, a strain on the tissue of the patient, the temperature of the electromechanical tool, or the like.

Bone fusion system, plate system, guide, implant, kit and methods for using the bone fusion system, plate system, guide and implant are disclosed. The bone fusion system includes an alignment guide, an implant, and at least one fastener inserted through the implant. The alignment guide includes a body portion, a first lobe positioned at a first end of the body portion, a second lobe positioned at a second end of the body portion, and an extension member extending away from a first side of the body portion. The implant includes a body portion, a first arm extending away from the body portion in a first direction, a second arm extending away from the body portion in a second direction, and a third arm extending away from the body portion laterally between first and second arms. Finally, methods for using the bone fusion system, plate system, guide and implant are disclosed.

Medical devices and related methods for transforming bone, other tissue, or other material are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a cutting device includes a static casing that defines a sheathing slot and an opening. The sheathing slot extends to the opening and has a first height at an end of the opening. Further, the bone cutting device includes a horn including a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to operatively connect to a source of movement. Further, the second end includes a cutting component having a second height. The first height is greater than the second height.

A positioning device is configured to selectively position or otherwise manipulate one or more organs within the body of a subject. The positioning device includes a shaped expandable element that is configured to be selectively transitioned between an unexpanded, or collapsed, state and an expanded state. While in the expanded state, the expandable element repositions or otherwise manipulates an organ. Systems that include positioning devices are also disclosed, as are methods for positioning or otherwise manipulating organs.