A uterine fibroid tissue removal device includes an inner tube disposed within an outer tube and configured to be translated and rotated relative to the outer tube, and a separately formed unitary distal tip member attached to a distal end of the inner tube, such that the distal tip member translates and rotates relative to the outer tube along with the inner tube, wherein a distal facing open cutting end of the distal tip member in fluid communication with an axial lumen of the distal tip member translates across a tissue resection window in a sidewall of the outer tube so as to sever tissue extending therethrough, the distal tip member axial lumen being in fluid communication with an axial lumen of the inner tube, wherein an outer diameter of the distal tip member is greater than an outer diameter of the inner tube.

A catheter has a body including a proximal region, a neck region, and a distal region. A shaping wire is disposed within the distal region to predispose it into at least a partial loop, which may have a fixed or variable radius of curvature. The shaping wire includes a distal portion having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape and a proximal portion having a non-circular (e.g., rectangular) transverse cross-sectional shape. The proximal portion of the shaping wire can have a width-to-thickness ratio of at least about 4, such as about 4.67. A transition portion can promote a gradual transition from the circular to the non-circular transverse cross-sectional shape, for example by increasing a width of the shaping wire by about 0.001″ and/or by decreasing a thickness of the shaping wire by about 0.001″ for every about 0.004″ in length through the transition portion.

A multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter may comprise a control handle, a catheter body and an annular ring. One end of the catheter body may be flexible, and the flexible end of the catheter body may be connected to the annular ring. The other end of the catheter body may be connected to the control handle. A shape memory wire may be arranged in the annular ring. One end of the shape memory wire may extend to an end of the annular ring and the other end of the shape memory wire may pass through a root of the annular ring and be fixed on the flexible end of the catheter body. The annular ring may be provided with an electrode group. The device possesses advantages of simple operation, short operation time and controllable precise ablation. The device can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary denervation.

A surgical device and procedure are provided for smoothly and easily accessing tissue to perform microsurgery, including a capsulotomy of a lens capsule of an eye. The device includes a handpiece with a tip for insertion into an incision in the cornea of the eye. A sliding element is disposed within the handpiece and a suction cup is mounted to the sliding element. The sliding element can be translated to move the suction cup into and out of the handpiece. A compression mechanism associated with the suction cup and the handpiece compresses the suction cup for deployment through the tip of the handpiece. The suction cup can expand inside the anterior chamber into a cutting position on the lens capsule. A cutting element mounted to the suction cup is used to cut a portion of the lens capsule and to remove the portion from the eye. The cutting element may be mounted to a cutting element support structure in a way that prevents heating of the device.

An electrode loop assembly for a catheter includes a form wire shaped as a loop, an activation wire coupled to the form wire, and a support tube defining a lumen and enclosing the form wire and the activation wire therein. The activation wire is operable to selectively vary a diameter of the loop, and is routed along a radial inner side of the form wire. The support tube extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, and has an oblong cross-section having a major axis. The support tube is twisted about the longitudinal axis such that an orientation of the major axis changes along a length of the support tube.

An endoscopic forceps includes an elongate shaft defining an instrument axis. An end effector includes first and second jaw members each supporting an opposed sealing surface for clamping tissue. At least one of the jaw members is movable relative to the instrument axis such that the jaw members are movable between a first spaced-apart configuration and a second closed configuration for grasping tissue. A cutting instrument includes a reciprocating blade translatable relative to the sealing surfaces to sever tissue clamped between the jaw members. The reciprocating blade contacts an undersurface of at least one of the jaw members when the jaw members are in the second configuration to define a gap distance between the sealing surfaces. A handle adjacent the proximal end of the elongate shaft is operable to induce motion in the jaw members, and an actuator is operable to selectively translate the reciprocating blade.

A retrieval catheter and methods of use are described for removing a heart valve therapy such as a leaflet clip or artificial leaflet cord. The retrieval catheter can include a cutting element and a basket, piercing element, clamping mechanism, or similar grasping device. The method includes delivering a catheter to the region of the heart valve therapy and then manipulating the catheter and associated instruments to cut tissue as necessary and then remove the heart valve therapy and withdraw the catheter.

A catheter includes an elongated body, a distal assembly with a shape-memory member defining a generally circular form, and a control handle adapted to actuate a deflection puller wire for deflecting a portion of the elongated body, and a contraction wire for contracting the generally circular form. The generally circular form which carries at least one ring electrode has an off-edge configuration relative to the elongated body such that a longitudinal axis of the elongated body does not intersect the circumference of the circular form and the generally circular form spirals about the longitudinal axis of the elongated body. Moreover, the circular form can have an on-axis configuration such that the longitudinal axis of the elongated body is axially aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the circular form, or an off-axis configuration such that these axes are axially offset from each other. In a more detailed embodiment, the catheter has a distal assembly with a helical form or a crescent form carrying a plurality of irrigated ablation ring electrodes and a plurality of smaller ring electrodes adapted for impedance recording or PV potential recording. A support member with shape memory extends through the distal assembly to provide the helical or crescent form. The support member has a varying stiffness along its length, for example, a decreasing stiffness toward a distal end of the support member. The support member can also be hollow so that it can receive a mandrel whose stiffness is greater than that of the support member.

Cardiac ablation catheters and methods of use. Catheters that include an expandable membrane, an imaging member disposed within the expandable membrane, the imaging member having a field of view, a light source disposed within the expandable member adapted to deliver light towards the field of view of the imaging member, and an electrode comprising an outer conductive layer and inner light absorbing layer disposed between the electrode and the expandable membrane, the inner light absorbing layer adapted to absorb light from the light source and thereby reduce reflection of the light from the outer conductive electrode.

Apparatus for facilitating ablation of nerve tissue of a subject is provided, comprising (1) an ablation unit, configured to be percutaneously advanced to a site adjacent to a first portion of the nerve tissue; (2) at least one electrode unit, coupled to the ablation unit, and configured to be percutaneously advanced to a site adjacent to a second portion of the nerve tissue, and to initiate unidirectional action potentials in the nerve tissue, such that the unidirectional action potentials propagate toward the first portion of the nerve tissue; and (3) a control unit, configured: (a) to drive the ablation unit to ablate, at least in part, the first portion of the nerve tissue of the subject, and (b) to drive the at least one electrode unit to initiate the unidirectional action potentials by applying an excitatory current to the second portion of the nerve tissue.