An inserter including a hollow elongated shaft extending along a central longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end with a lumen extending therethrough; a sharp point at the distal end of the hollow elongated shaft, the sharp point disposed eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the hollow elongated shaft; a handle at the proximal end of the hollow elongated shaft; and a drive shaft movably disposed within the lumen of the hollow elongated shaft.

An implantable closure device for sealing an opening, such as a puncture, through a biologic tissue membrane, such as the meninges, against leakage of biological fluid. The closure device includes a fluid sealing plug configured to be positioned at least partially within the opening through the biologic tissue membrane. A retainer is configured to secure the fluid sealing plug at least partially within the opening. The retainer includes a proximal retainer portion configured to be disposed proximally on the biologic tissue membrane, a distal retainer portion configured to be disposed distally on the biologic tissue membrane, and a central retainer portion connecting the proximal retainer portion and the distal retainer portion. The central retainer portion is configured to extend through the opening. The fluid sealing plug is coupled to the central retainer portion.

The present invention relates to a urinary blockage removal system using a novel modified Foley catheter. The system is used for removing urinary bladder blockages of patients having obliterated prostatic urethra with dystrophic calcifications. In one exemplary embodiment, a 22-French modified Foley catheter is used as a sheath to maintain the patency of the lumen of the urethra. A tubular dental handpiece is operated by a dental lab motor and is advanced through the 22-French sheath to a point of the obstruction in the bladder. A dental bur can be pushed forward and drills through the calcification in the prostatic urethra and continues to the bladder neck. Using the dental bur, a blockage at the bladder neck can be removed.

A method of cutting soft tissue in a hand to treat trigger finger involves advancing an introducer shaft into the hand to position a distal end of the introducer shaft beyond a pulley in a finger of the hand, advancing a blade along a guiding channel on an upper surface of the introducer shaft, to position a distal end of the blade at or near the distal end of the introducer shaft, and rotating a cutting surface of the blade to an orientation at or near perpendicular relative to the upper surface of the introducer shaft. The method further involves retracting the blade along the introducer shaft to cut the pulley and removing the introducer shaft and the blade from the hand.

Provided is a stiffness-reinforced surgical system. A stiffness-reinforced surgical system includes a plurality of links provided rotatably with each other to form a joint device, a main tendon configured to form a traction force for driving the links, an auxiliary tendon configured to form a traction force to resist rotation of the links, and a controller configured to control the traction forces of the main tendon and the auxiliary tendon. According to example embodiment, it is possible to provide a stiffness-reinforced surgical system configured such that an overtube forms sufficient flexibility while being inserted into the lumen and forms high stiffness during lesion removal, and a control method thereof.

Disclosed is a brain implant placement apparatus, which includes a base member contoured to rest against a cranium of a patient. The brain implant apparatus including a pivot arm hingedly coupled to the base member and configured to rotate from a first configuration to a second configuration. The brain implant placement apparatus including an implant attachment member coupled to the pivot arm via a rotating attachment mechanism and further comprising a receiving portion configured to removably couple with a brain implant and rotate the brain implant. In the first configuration, the pivot arm is positioned such that the receiving portion of the implant attachment member is facing upward. In the second configuration, the pivot arm is positioned such that the receiving portion of the implant attachment member is facing substantially downwards.

A medical device having an elongate body with a proximal portion, a distal portion, and defining a lumen therethrough. The medical device has an expandable element coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body, the expandable element defining a proximal portion, a distal portion opposite the proximal portion and an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The expandable element also has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The medical device has a plurality of cutting members, each cutting member being coupled with the outer surface of the expandable element, each cutting member having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal end being proximate the proximal portion of the expandable element and the distal end being proximate to the intermediate portion of the expandable element.

One embodiment provides a tightly targeted minimally invasive therapy (TTMIT) parathyroid tissue ablating instrument. A substance that cytotoxically ablates parathyroidal tissue during application in the parathyroidal tissue of therapeutically sufficient units of an electromagnetic energy having a frequency only ranging from ultraviolet to visible to near infrared. A substance delivery device is configured to introduce the substance into the parathyroidal tissue. An electromagnetic energy treatment device is configured to apply the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy within a thermal range that is non-cytotoxic to the parathyroidal tissue to the substance after the substance has been introduced by the substance delivery device. A sensor is configured to monitor activation of the substance as the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy are applied. The electromagnetic energy treatment device is further configured to modulate applying the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy once the substance has been activated.

The present disclosure is directed to devices, kits, and methods for treating lumbar spinal stenosis by at least partially decompressing a compressed nerve root. The method can include identifying the compressed nerve root and percutaneously accessing a region of a lamina located adjacent to the compressed nerve root. The method can also include forming a channel through the region of the lamina, wherein the channel can be formed medial to a lateral border of the lamina. Further, the method can include expanding the channel in a lateral direction.

A meniscal repair instrument includes an articulating mechanism configured to move a needle on the tip in a controlled arc. Multiple directions of motion are provided in order to facilitate the deployment of suture anchors. In one aspect, the articulating mechanism includes a series of movable members that are coupled together by two wires that are provided with a push/pull force via a control mechanism.