Cardica, Inc.

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Tryton Medical, Inc.

Origin Medsystems, Inc.

Ibis Medical, Inc.

Maquet Cardiovascular LLC

Vascular Innovations, Inc.

Integra Lifesciences Corporation

Dextera Surgical Inc.

Eunoe, Inc.

Jaime Salvador Vargas

Stephen A Yencho

Bernard A Hausen

Brendan M Donohoe

Michael J Hendricksen

Theodore M Bender

James T Nielsen

Jamey Nielsen

David L Bombard

Tenny Chang

Bryan Dale Knodel

Nathan H White

Scott Clinton Anderson

Scott O Chamness

Albert K Chin

Aaron V Kaplan

Philipe Roget Manoux

Larry J Voss

David E Hancock

Grace A Carlson

Steven Peng

Russell C Mead, Jr

Brian R DuBois

Heather L Klaubert

John W Davis

Gregory B Arcenio

Tom Saul

John D Davis

Andrew Frazier

Scott Ladell Vance

Edward Rubenstein

David L Karshmer

Elliott C Levinthal

Scott Berggren

Philip E Oyer

Jeremy Frank

Ted Bender

Scott Vance

Phillipe R Manoux

A medical device includes an inner element and an outer element positioned at least in part around the inner element. At least one of the inner element and the outer element comprises compression-stiffening particles. The compression-stiffening particles are transitionable from a first state to a second state in response to application of pressure. The compression-stiffening particles have a higher rigidity in the second state than in the first state. The medical device also includes a pressure source operably coupled to one or both of the inner element and the outer element to apply pressure sufficient to transition the compression-stiffening particles from the first state to the second state.

Shape-transferring cannula system and method of use

A selectively shapeable medical device comprises an elongate tube, an activation component operatively coupled to the elongate tube, and means for actuating the activation component. The activation component has a first state and a second state different from the first state. The activation component alters a stiffness of at least a portion of the tube coupled to the activation component in the first state and does not alter a stiffness of the portion of the tube in the second state.

A method for advancing a rigidizable medical device may include rigidizing a portion of an outer element of the device, and while the portion of the outer element is rigidized, advancing an inner element of the device relative to the outer element of the device by a first preestablished length of advancement. The method may also include, after advancing the inner element, relaxing the portion of the outer element of the device. The method may further include, after relaxing the portion of the outer element, advancing the outer element of the device relative to the inner element of the device by a second preestablished length of advancement.

The present invention is directed to a novel shape-transferring cannula system, which provides access to tortuous and unsupported paths. The shape-transferring cannula system and method enables exploration of hollow body structures, and creates a custom-contoured access port for insertion and removal of, for example, diagnostic, surgical, or interventional instruments to and from a site within the body to which the physician does not have line-of-sight access.

A surgical tool for performing anastomosis may include a handle and a tissue effector connected by a shaft, at least party of which may be flexible. The tissue effector may include a staple holder connected to an anvil.

Anastomosis system with flexible shaft

An intragastric anchor implant device with an elongate member having proximal and distal ends with atraumatic features disposed thereon is described herein. The atraumatic features inhibit damage to the tissues of the stomach and the gastrointestinal tract and help anchor the device. The elongate member may be substantially rigid to resist bending and engage a tissue of the stomach or gastrointestinal tract to prevent passage therethrough and may include one or more bends to conform to the shape of the tract. The anchor implant device may be coupled with a therapeutic device, such as an intestinal bypass sleeve with a sliding seal, such as an expandable structure, that secures the sleeve to direct a flow of food particles from the stomach therethrough, for use in treating various disorders, including obesity and diabetes. Methods of deploying the anchor implant devices are also disclosed.

Intragastric implant devices

An embodiment of the invention provides a prosthesis delivery system comprising a delivery catheter having an expandable member and a prosthesis carried over the expandable member. The prosthesis includes a radially expandable scaffold section and at least two anchors extending axially from an end thereof; and means for capturing at least the anchors to prevent the anchors from divaricating from the expandable member as the catheter is advanced through a patient's vasculature.

Prosthesis for placement at a luminal OS

A method for advancing a device positioned coaxially with respect to a cannula comprises rigidizing a portion of the cannula and advancing the device until a first preestablished limit of relative displacement between the cannula and the device is reached. The method further comprises relaxing the portion of the cannula and advancing the cannula until a second preestablished limit of relative displacement between the cannula and the device is reached.

Methods of advancing a cannula system into a body

An intragastric implant comprises an anchor and a therapeutic device or a diagnostic device. The anchor is adapted to extend between the fundus and the pyloric valve of a stomach, to be retained without attachment to the stomach wall, and to anchor the device within the stomach with a relatively stable position and orientation. The therapeutic or diagnostic device is adapted to extend from the esophagus or stomach to the intestines or stomach. The therapeutic or diagnostic device, when extending into the esophagus, will be slidably received through the gastroesophageal junction and, when extending into the intestines, will be slidably received in the pyloric valve.

A surgical staple for connecting two tubular tissue structures may include a substantially rectangular base having a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to one another, and a third edge substantially perpendicular to the first and said second edges; and may also include at least three deformable tines extending from the first and second edges of said base; where no tine that extends from the first edge may be positioned at substantially the same distance from the third edge as any said tine that extends from the second edge; and where deformation of the tines secures the tubular tissue structures together.

Surgical staple for anastomosis

An intragastric anchor implant device is provided with a substantially rigid member having proximal and distal ends and atraumatic tips or features disposed near the proximal and distal ends. The atraumatic features prevent damage to the tissues of the stomach and the gastrointestinal track and may help to anchor the device in the stomach, while the substantially rigid member resists bending so as to engage a tissue of the stomach or the gastrointestinal tract to prevent passage through the stomach. The anchor implant device is coupled with a therapeutic device, typically a sleeve, such as an intestinal bypass sleeve. Ideally, the device includes a sliding seal to direct a flow of food particles from the stomach through the sleeve, so as to be useful in treating a disorder, including obesity and diabetes. Methods of deploying the anchor implant devices are also disclosed.

A rigidizable linkage mechanism comprises a plurality of serially arranged links comprising a distal link and a link proximal to the distal link. The rigidizable linkage mechanism further comprises a cable that extends in a distal direction through the plurality of serially arranged links, extends around the distal link of the plurality of links, and in a proximal direction back through at least a portion of the plurality of links. A distal end of the cable is fixedly coupled to the link proximal to the distal link, and a proximal end of the cable is coupled to a rigidizing actuator.

Rigidizable linkage mechanisms and systems for modifying an articulating force

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Jaime Salvador Vargas