A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient, wherein the surgical instrument, as provided, may be a steerable surgical catheter with a biopsy device and/or a surgical catheter with a side-exiting medical instrument, among others. Additionally, systems, methods and devices are provided for forming a respiratory-gated point cloud of a patient's respiratory system and for placing a localization element in an organ of a patient.

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.

The present disclosure relates to a mechanical thrombectomy device that includes a catheter assembly with a basket assembly formed of a proximal hub and a distal hub; a flexible tube having a first end attached to the proximal hub and a second end attached to the distal hub; and a plurality of basket wires. The flexible tube may be laser-cut to allow for bending, elongation, and compression. The basket wires each have a first end attached to the proximal hub and a second end attached to the distal hub. The basket wires are disposed around the flexible tube and configured to expand to a preset shape. The basket assembly is attached to a distal end of a rotatable shaft. A drive assembly is configured to rotate the rotatable shaft to rotate the basket assembly. The basket assembly when rotated is configured to macerate a material proximate to the basket assembly.

A debulking catheter includes an advancer for advancing a tissue-removing element, and a linear-force indicator. The linear-force indicator provides feedback to the user based on an amount of linear force being applied to the advancer.

Device and method for comminution or inactivation of circulating tumor cells (CTC) or tumor cell clusters (CTCC) from a tumor-affected organ or organ part, wherein it is proposed that in the venous drain of the tumor-affected organ or organ part a pump (2) with a pressure-increasing section and a pressure-reducing throttle (13) is arranged and is operated at the output side in its design point given by volumetric flow (Q) and pumping pressure (p) according to the volumetric flow and the blood pressure of the venous drain of the tumor-affected organ or organ part. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) and tumor cell clusters (CTCC) are thus comminuted and inactivated to thus reduce the risk of metastasis formation in cancerous diseases.

Components, systems and kits for capturing and removing tissue from mammalian bodies include a tissue container that may be introduced into a body cavity and within which a tissue specimen may be placed, cut and removed from the body cavity. Methods of using these components, systems and kits are also described.

An atherectomy catheter having an inner drive shaft which rotates a distal rotary tissue borer with a helical cutting surface which enables the catheter to cut through and cross a CTO. Additionally, the atherectomy catheter has a distal cutting element rotated by an outer drive shaft configured to cut material from the wall of a vessel at a treatment site as the catheter is pushed distally through the treatment site. The atherectomy catheter includes a collection chamber positioned proximally of the cutting element and rotary tissue borer. The atherectomy catheter directs material cut from the treatment site into the collection chamber, breaks down larger portions of material that may block or clog the collection chamber and transports the material collected from the treatment site to a proximal opening in the atherectomy catheter.

Described here are devices and components for use in performing an atherectomy. Generally, the atherectomy devices may have a handle, a cutter assembly, and a catheter or catheter assembly therebetween. The cutter assembly may include a housing and a cutter comprising a proximal cutter and a distal cutter, each of which may be rotated relative to the atherectomy device to cut occlusive material.

A bendable medical device such as for removing tissue from a subject is provided with a distal housing, an outer support tube, an inner drive tube, a coupler and a commutator portion. The coupler and commutator portion serve to axially constrain a distal end of the inner drive tube during bending, and to supply fluid for lubricating, cooling and irrigating the distal end of the device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a medical device is provided, which comprises the following: (a) a hollow elongate body (e.g., a elongate cylinder, such as a needle) having distal and proximal ends; and (b) a rotatable member comprising a tissue morselizer and an elongate shaft (e.g., an auger-like tissue-drilling bit). In the devices of the present invention, the elongate shaft is disposed within the hollow elongate body and cooperates with the hollow elongate body to (i) advance material (e.g., morselated tissue) toward the proximal end of the hollow elongate body when the shaft is rotated in a first direction, and (ii) advance material (e.g., a therapeutic agent and/or a bulking agent) toward the distal end of the hollow elongate body when the shaft is rotated in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. According to another aspect of the invention a method of treatment is provided that comprises: (a) inserting the a medical device like that above into the tissue of a patient; (b) morselizing and removing tissue from within the patient while rotating the shaft in a first direction, thereby creating a void within the patient; and (c) introducing a therapeutic agent and/or a bulking agent into the void.