Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for cardiac device anchoring and more specifically to accessing and anchoring in the pericardial space.

Needle devices for accessing lymph nodes and thoracic ducts. A needle device for insertion into a lymph node and secured after access to the lymph node is described. The needle can aspirate or introduce fluids through a needle aperture in the needle sidewall. The needle may be curved. The needle device may also have a channel for fluids. The channel can have an aperture in the sidewall or be a separate channel alongside the lumen and have a distal aperture. Securing the needle can be accomplished via a hook, spiraling element, balloon or glue, which can be introduced via an open needle tip or a channel aperture. The spiraling element may be attached to a drive configured to rotate the spiraling element.

Electrophysiology mapping and visualization systems are described herein where such devices may be used to visualize tissue regions as well as map the electrophysiological activity of the tissue. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. A position of the catheter and/or hood may be tracked and the hood may also be used to detect the electrophysiological activity of the visualized tissue for mapping.

A catheter system comprises an elongate catheter body including a distal end, a cannulation lumen extending through the catheter body and terminating at the distal end of the catheter body, and a steering element extending through the catheter body for steering the distal end. The catheter system also comprises an imaging element secured to a distal end portion of the catheter body and configured to obtain optical images of an area located distally of the distal end of the catheter body. The catheter body includes a ridge extending axially along an outer surface of the distal end portion, wherein a width of the ridge measured about a circumference of the catheter body is less than a length of the ridge measured along the longitudinal axis, and the imaging element is radially aligned with the ridge with at least a portion of the imaging element disposed within the ridge.

A cannula insertion system for cannulating a blood vessel includes a cannula system having a cannula that defines a cannula lumen and has a distal and proximal end. The system includes a cannula insertion device for coupling with the system that includes a dilator having a dilator body and a dilator lumen; a needle having a needle body and a needle lumen, the needle being translatable within the dilator lumen along a first direction; a movable dilator actuator configured to cause the dilator to move along the first direction; a movable needle actuator configured to cause movement of the needle along the first direction; and a housing defining housing recess. The housing recess is configured to receive the cannula system, the dilator, and the needle. The needle and the dilator are configured to be moved within the cannula lumen along the first direction.

An intra-body system and method of inserting a flexible sleeve as a passageway into an internal organ. The method comprises inserting a channel into an organ by perforating the wall of the organ; releasing a distal fixation portion of the passageway sleeve inside the organ; fixating the distal fixation portion to the wall of the organ; pulling a proximal portion of the passageway sleeve outside the body to stretch the sleeve. The stretched sleeve: a) generates a passageway between the proximal end of the sleeve at the outer body portion and the distal portion of the sleeve inside the organ, and b) seals the perforation rim at the organ.

An assembly for restoring a gastroesophageal flap valve includes a restoration device substantially free for rotation. The assembly comprises an elongated member configured to be fed through a throat, down an adjoining esophagus and into an associated stomach. The elongated member has a distal end. The assembly further comprises a gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device carried on the distal end of the elongated member for placement in the stomach, and an invaginator carried by the elongated member. The invaginator is configured to grip the esophagus and the elongated member and invaginator are coupled for restricted relative axial movement and substantially free relative rotational movement.

A surgical instrument access port assembly and method of use, the surgical instrument access port a surgical instrument has a needle lumen and a surgical access port. The needle lumen extends in a longitudinal direction and includes a needle tip at a distal end, and a body portion at a proximal end, the body portion having at least one recess or finger. The surgical access port has a cannula defining a hollow cannula shaft, and a tapered hub attached to a proximal end of the cannula. The tapered hub includes at least one inner ring configured to abut against the at least one recess or finger while the surgical instrument is inserted into the cannula of the surgical access port.

A method can include engaging the pericardium of a patient at two engagement positions of the pericardium. The method can further include moving the two engagement positions of the pericardium away from each other to tension a portion of the pericardium. The method can further include advancing an access device through the tensioned portion of the pericardium to introduce the access device into the pericardial space of the patient. Other and further methods are also disclosed.

Surgical devices having a plurality of outwardly-biased flexible fins capable of both inward convergence and outward flexion, provide for fluid retention and soft tissue retraction during surgical procedures. The outwardly-biased flexible fins also provide for soft tissue compression, decreasing the length of the lumen or passageway through which instruments pass, allowing for a wider range of movement of instruments and better access to the surgical site, especially in patients with greater amounts of fat tissue that would otherwise require longer lumen lengths in prior art endoscopic cannulas. An obturator assembly including a cannulated handle member with a cannulated shaft attached to said handle member, said shaft extending distally and terminating at a cannulated obturator tip. A hood structure found on such obturator tip may be used to secure one or more flexible fins prior to deployment.