One embodiment is directed to a system for closing a wound created at least partially across a tissue structure wall, comprising: a helical needle; a suture member coupled to the helical needle and configured to be pulled along a helical pattern with helical movement of the helical needle; an outer delivery member rotatably coupled to the helical needle; a drive shaft axially movably coupled to the outer delivery member; and a plurality of suture guide struts projecting distally from the outer delivery member; wherein upon helical insertion of the helical needle relative to the outer delivery member, the helical needle is advanced such that it becomes disposed around the guide struts, such that the guide struts prevent radial migration of the suture as it is helically wound into the tissue structure.

A method and system are disclosed for opening a workspace inside a lumen of a living creature are disclosed. Anchors may be affixed to opposite ends of the workspace. An extender may be distance anchors apart while they are affixed to the walls of the workspace. Distancing the anchors may unfold and/or stretch the lumen in the region of the workspace.

Described herein are acoustic-based tissue treatment systems, apparatuses, and methods for use therewith. Certain such apparatuses comprise a catheter sized and shaped for delivery through a radial artery including a catheter shaft having distal and proximal ends, a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter shaft between the distal and proximal ends thereof, and an ultrasound transducer distally positioned relative to the distal end of the catheter shaft. A balloon may surround the ultrasound transducer and at least one of the plurality of lumens may be configured to provide a cooling fluid to the balloon at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to protect non-target tissue in the blood vessel wall from thermal injury. In certain embodiments, the apparatus also includes a single electrical cable extending through one of the lumens and including first conductor(s) coupled to the first electrode of the ultrasound transducer, and second conductor(s) coupled to the second electrode of the ultrasound transducer. The single electrical cable may be configured to deliver sufficient electrical energy during sonication to the transducer such that the transducer thermally induces modulation of neural fibers surrounding the blood vessel sufficient to improve a measurable physiological parameter corresponding to a diagnosed condition of the patient.

A balloon suction catheter may be used to remove clots and increase blood flow to obstructed vessels such as a cerebral artery in a stroke patient. The catheter may be used to apply suction on the clot while providing flow arrest, embolic protection, and optionally flow reversal. The same catheter may also be used to provide for a flow modulation procedure known as post-conditioning to potentially reduce any damage from the sudden reintroduction of blood flow reperfusion injury.

The present technology is directed generally to devices, systems, and methods for capturing and cutting fibrous and trabeculated structures (such as synechiae) in vessel lumens. In one embodiment, the present technology includes an intraluminal tissue modifying system configured to capture the fibrous structures, put the fibrous structures in tension, and controllably cut through the fibrous structures without applying appreciable additional force to the vessel wall. The system may include an expandable capture device and a cutting device.

The present disclosure is directed to a device. The device may include a distal shaft defining a central lumen and an orienting element comprising at least one inflatable member. Wherein a first portion of the orienting element extending from the shaft in a first direction and a second portion of the orienting element extending from the shaft in a second direction. Further, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction.

A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves including a catheter (12, 22, 42) configured for percutaneous delivery to a heart valve, an fracture-producing element (14, 26, 46, 64, 66,82, 124, 152) disposed at a distal portion of the catheter and operative to vibrate and mechanically fracture calcifications when brought into contact with a calcification at a leaflet of the heart valve, and an energy source (34, 47, 79, 98, 152) operative to vibrate the fracture-producing element so that the fracture-producing element fractures the calcification without necessarily removing the calcification from the leaflet. The device may further comprise a valvuloplasty balloon (30), an embolic protection net (56) and a protective sleeve (110, 130).

A catheter device with a cutting structure or means on the distal portion is disclosed, along with a medical procedure for using the device. The catheter is configured in such a way as to create a permanent interatrial aperture in the heart, including creating a permanent interatrial hole and/or removing tissue.

Methods and devices are disclosed for minimally invasive procedures in the heart. In one application, a catheter is advanced from the left atrium through the mitral valve and along the left ventricular outflow tract to orient and stabilize the catheter and enable a procedure such as a “bow tie” repair of the mitral valve. Right heart procedures are also disclosed.

Systems and methods can remove material of interest, including blood clots, from a body region, including but not limited to the circulatory system for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), cerebrovascular embolism, and other vascular occlusions.