A medical device that comprises a rim defining a loop in a plane and defining a width measured perpendicular to the plane, at least one wire coupled to a distal end of the rim and extending proximally from the distal end out of the plane to a proximal end of the rim, the at least one wire having a cross-sectional dimension measured perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one wire, the cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the width of the rim, and a sheath configured to cover at least a portion of the rim and a portion of the at least one ware.

An adjustable loop stripper for stretching an arterial wall outwardly as plaque is excavated inwardly.

A method for performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion on a spine of a patient can include inserting without direct visualization a neuro-monitoring dilating probe into the patient, performing neuro-monitoring via the neuro-monitoring dilating probe, advancing the neuro-monitoring dilating probe into a disc space, passing a second dilator over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe, and advancing the second dilator into the disc space. A kit for performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion can include a neuro-monitoring dilating probe, a second dilator, a tissue removal tool, an access portal comprising an adjustable depth stop, and a discectomy verification device.

An adjustable loop stripper for stretching an arterial wall outwardly as plaque is excavated inwardly.

An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises an elongate endovascular element such as a wire. The element has a proximal section, a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the proximal section of the element for ultrasonically activating the element, hence exciting the distal tip section to facilitate crossing through the obstruction. A catheter surrounds the element, leaving at least part of the distal tip section of the element protruding distally beyond a distal end of the catheter.

An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: an elongate endovascular element such as a wire; an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element for ultrasonically exciting a distal tip portion thereof to facilitate the crossing through the obstruction, and one or more damping features, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element to attenuate lateral displacement of the endovascular element at positions away from the distal tip portion.

A medical instrument fashioned as an articulating curette for decorticating vertebral endplates of vertebrae of a spine via a cannula has a handle, a controller connected to the handle, two opposing arms extending from the controller, a control shaft between the two opposing arms and coupled to the controller for longitudinally axial movement thereof by the controller relative to the two opposing arms, a bladed decorticating head for decorticating vertebral endplate bone material from vertebral endplates and pivotally connected to the two opposing arms for articulation from 0° to 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the control shaft, and a pivot mechanism between the bladed decorticating head and the control shaft providing controlled articulation of the bladed decorticating head through longitudinally axial movement of the control shaft. Rotational movement of the controller moves the control shaft axially relative to the two opposing arms to articulate the bladed decorticating head.

A cartilage repair technique employs a cutter-tissue trap combination device to harvest cartilage tissue from a low-weight-bearing site of a subject. Cut tissue is aspirated though a lumen of a tissue cutter. The lumen includes an outer shaft having a first distal window and an inner shaft having a second distal window. Edges of the first distal window and the second distal window cooperate to provide a cutting action there-between upon rotation of the inner shaft within the outer shaft. A tissue trap coupled to the tissue cutter is configured to collect tissue shavings of a desired size to efficiently deliver the collected shavings to a repair site during surgery. The tissue trap includes a filter in a housing configured between a removable inflow chamber and a removable outflow chamber.

A method of treating osteomyelitis of the jaws (OMJ) can include sequestrectomy (removing necrotic bone) using piezoelectric vibrations and decortication (creating bleeding spots) using piezoelectric vibrations. The OMJ can include secondary chronic OMJ caused by previous dental implant placements. The method can further include administering dual antibiotic therapy to the patient. The dual antibiotic therapy can include administering Augmentin and Metronidazole to the patient for a period of about three weeks.

An example aspiration system includes an inner member configured to be received within an aspiration catheter lumen and disrupt a thrombus positioned within vasculature of a patient. The inner member includes a distal member at a distal portion of an elongated support member, where the distal member is configured to fit within the aspiration catheter lumen. The distal member defines a larger cross-sectional dimension than the elongated support member, the cross-section being taken in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the support member, and is configured to be deployed distally outward from a distal opening of the aspiration catheter lumen to contact and disrupt a thrombus to facilitate the efficiency of a medical aspiration procedure. The distal member may include one or more tapered portions and a surface disruption configured to aid with the thrombus disruption.