Abstract: A system for providing safe, effective ear-piercing is provided. A hinged hoop earring is provided for use in a stud gun system. The hinged hoop earring can be used in an earring cartridge which fits in a cradle of a stud gun for piercing. A vertically stackable packing box maintains a sterile environment in which the earring cartridge with a hinged hoop earring may be transported and stored. The stud gun can be loaded and unloaded using the packing box in such a way that the operator need not touch the cartridge during either loading or unloading.

Abstract: An endoscopic stone extraction device includes a handle that supports a sheath, and a filament such as a wire slidably disposed in the sheath. One end of the wire is mounted to the handle for rotation with respect to the handle and the other end of the handle supports a stone extraction basket. A manipulator is provided on the wire to allow a user to rotate the filament and therefore the basket with respect to the handle. The basket can have a side-facing opening or a rear-facing opening. In either case, a stone retention region is provided with relatively small openings sized to retain stones smaller than two millimeters in diameter. A collapsible rake is disclosed which facilitates the collection and extraction of stone fragments.

Abstract: An aspiration baffle comprises an outer tube and an inner core wire. Microholes are provided in the outer tubular member to permit passage of gas but inhibit the passage of liquids. The aspiration baffle is used in a catheter having a balloon or other inflatable structure to assist in priming of the structure. After evacuating the inflatable structure by applying a vacuum, the aspiration baffle can collect and trap residual gas which remains during the priming of the inflatable structure.

Abstract: A dilator retractor and the dilators that are used for minimally invasive spinal surgery or other surgery are configured to accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient as by configuring the cross sectional area in an elliptical shape, or by forming a funnel configuration with the wider end at the proximate end. In some embodiments the distal end is contoured to also accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient so that a cylindrically shaped, funnel shaped, ovoid shaped dilator retractor can be sloped or tunneled to accommodate the bone structure of the patient or provide access for implants. The dilator retractor is made with different lengths to accommodate the depth of the cavity formed by the dilators.

Abstract: A method for repairing a defect. The method comprises accessing a percutaneous space adjacent the defect using a tubular member, placing an introducer adjacent the percutaneous space, and conducting tissue repair for the defect through the introducer.

Abstract: A stent-graft having an exo-skeleton attached to a tubular graft, the tubular graft having a peripheral wall defining a lumen therein extending between first and second ends. One or more support elements, defining the exo-skeleton, are attached to the tubular graft, each support element extending generally peripherally around the tubular graft, each support element including generally axial segments and generally peripheral segments. A plurality of first fasteners attach the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, at least one generally axial segment being slidably engaged by each first fastener. A plurality of second fasteners also attach the plurality of support elements to the wall of the tubular graft, each second fastener substantially anchoring a generally peripheral segment of the respective support element to the wall of the tubular graft.

Abstract: A bypass graft incorporates fixation mechanisms at its opposite ends, for securing these ends to different locations along a blood vessel, or alternatively to different locations wherein one of the locations is a different vessel or an organ defining a cavity. Mechanical fixation features such as collets or grommets can be employed, enhanced by delivery of an electrical current sufficient to heat surrounding tissue to form a thermal bond. A graft deployment system includes a tissue dilator and a needle for perforating tissue, mounted coaxially within the dilator. Intralumenal systems further include a catheter for containing the dilator.

Abstract: A system for the removal of epidermal and dermal skin through the use of a pressurized stream of water. The surgeon chooses the pressure of the water to obtain the desired abrasive affect. In one embodiment of the invention, a benign abrasive is added to the water to assist in the removal of the surface cells of the skin. In other embodiments, a variety of medications are added to the water such as: anesthetics to deaden the skin being abraded; coagulants to minimized bleeding in the abraded area; and antiseptics to combat infection after treatment is applied. In one embodiment of the invention, a catch reservoir is positioned around the site being treated to collect and withdraw the spent liquid and removed cells.

Abstract: A medical graft connector for connecting an end of a tubular graft conduit to a side wall of a patient's existing tubular body conduit via an aperture in the side wall thereof has a first plurality of fingers configured to engage an interior surface of the side wall of the existing conduit. A second plurality of fingers is configured to engage an exterior surface of the side wall of the existing conduit. A third plurality of fingers is received in an interior lumen of the graft conduit, and a fourth plurality of fingers is configured to pierce the graft conduit. The connector is radially deformable between a first size and a second size.

Abstract: A cornea surgical operation apparatus for incising a cornea of a patient's eye into a layer comprises a fixing device having an opening put into contact with the surface of the cornea and for being fixed to a peripheral part of the cornea with the opening as a center, a press device for nearly flat pressing the cornea protruded from the opening, a blade for cutting out the cornea pressed into a nearly flat shape by the press device, a movement device for moving the blade in such a way that it passes a center of the opening, and a rotation device for rotating the blade moved at least to a Bowman membrane by the movement device with the center of the opening as the center of rotation.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a surgical device for joining a first and a second vessel together and creating a passageway therebetween. The device includes an implement which has proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The implement has a bottom member and a top member which are substantially coextensive. The top and bottom members are pivoted together at the proximal end so that a wall of each of the first and second vessels can be held between the top and bottom portions. The device includes a mechanism for joining the first and second vessels together along two joining lines which are substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the implement. The lines have distal and proximal ends. The device further includes a blade for severing the first and second vessels between the joining lines so as to create a passageway through the vessels.

Abstract: A bypass graft incorporates fixation mechanisms at its opposite ends, for securing these ends to different locations along a blood vessel, or alternatively to different locations wherein one of the locations is a different vessel or an organ defining a cavity. Mechanical fixation features such as collets or grommets can be employed, enhanced by delivery of an electrical current sufficient to heat surrounding tissue to form a thermal bond. A graft deployment system includes a tissue dilator and a needle for perforating tissue, mounted coaxially within the dilator. Intralumenal systems further include a catheter for containing the dilator.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating revascularization channels in tissue, such as the myocardium of the heart, mechanically cuts the channels using a hand piece with easily removable cutting tip assemblies having angled, sharpened edges to allow rapid tip replacement. The cutting tip assembly has an inner needle within an outer hollow needle with each needle attached to the hand piece for independent rotation and axial movement. The inner needle may be hollow, or formed with a pointed tip, and may rotate counter to the outer needle to enhance gripping and storage of the tissue excised by the outer needle. The hand piece may attach a cylindrical magazine of cutting tip assemblies or one cutting tip assembly. The cutting tip assembly may be heated to provide thermal damage to the heart muscle during the creation of the channel, providing some of the advantages of the laser method of TMR.

Abstract: An external fixator for securing a first bone portion in a position relative to a second bone portion. The fixator includes a first clamping assembly for receiving a first bone screw connected to the first bone portion and a second clamping assembly for receiving a second bone screw connected to the second bone portion. The first and second clamping assemblies are interconnected by a main body which includes a plurality of serrated joints. Each serrated joint preferably includes first and second overlapping flanges which carry cooperating serrated surfaces adapted to selectively interlock. Each joint includes a fastener defining a pivot axis, the fasteners being operative to mechanically separate the cooperating serrated surfaces upon rotation in a first direction.

Abstract: A wound suturing assembly and method of use employing elastically precurved suture needles for piercing a patient's tissue to suture closed a wound. The needles are ejected out of the assembly and whereupon they assume a pre-curved shape and in the process curve back to pierce the tissue a second time prior to reentering the assembly. Each needle carries a length of suture through the wound so that the sutures can be tied and the wound tightly sealed.

Abstract: This is a device for occluding a space within the body, and particularly, it is useful as a vaso-occlusive device. In particular, it typically comprises a metallic core or core member, and two polymeric conjuncts, often polymeric members, of differing thrombogenicity. Typically, the core member will comprise a metallic helically-wound coil; the first polymeric member and second polymeric member will be fibrous materials woven into a braid. These devices may be placed at the desired site within a mammal to facilitate the formation of an occlusion. The inventive device has been found to promote the formation of scar tissue, healing tissue, or neocapillaries in vascular occlusions made by the device.

Abstract: A motorized pierced body part cleaning device includes a substantially hollow, elongated tubular handle component having an open end and a plurality of cleaning stem gripping members at a distal end. The cleaning stem gripping members are selectively rotated using an electric motor disposed within the tubular handle. Integral with the tubular handle adjacent its open end is a storage reservoir for storing a plurality of cleaning stems in a cleaning or disinfecting solution. The open end may be selectively enclosed using a cap means.

Abstract: The universal cartridge provides sterile conditions by which ears may be pierced by a variety of different stud gun types and models thereby decreasing the inventory which a merchant must maintain. A chassis slideably holds a carriage inside a cover that may be sealed for sterilization and to maintain sterile conditions. The carriage is especially constructed to have interlocking pieces that disengage upon completion of the ear piercing process. The chassis may be constructed such that the interlocking nature of the carriage is employed to both hold and release the pierced earring stud. The cover serves to provide means by which the cartridge and chassis may be manipulated without direct handling and also to provide means by which a removable seal may be used to provide and maintain sterile conditions.

Abstract: In order to connect the core undetachably to the holding element in the case of a pin-type holding element for an orthopaedic holding system with an elastically compressible, head-shaped widened portion and with a central opening, into which a core may be inserted, which prevents an elastic compression of the head-shaped widened portion by filling out the central opening in the region of the widened portion without expanding this, it is proposed that the core is displaceable in the opening between a locking position, in which it fills out the central opening in the region of the widened portion, and a release position plunging deeper into the central opening, in which it releases the central opening in the region of the widened portion and thus allows its elastic compression