Abstract: A knitted surgical mesh formed from a yarn. The knitted mesh has from 18 to 24 courses per inch and from 5 12 to 16 wales per inch, a flexibility of from 400-950 mg-cm/cm, a burst strength greater than 175 pounds per square inch, and a pore size percentage greater than 37%.

Abstract: Methods and devices for percutaneous, in situ coronary bypass wherein a tissue puncturing catheter is used to form blood flow paths between an artery and an adjacent vein such that arterial blood will flow through a segment of the adjacent vein, thereby bypassing a lesion in the artery. The tissue puncturing catheter comprises a flexible catheter having a tissue puncturing apparatus such as a sharp tipped member, an electro-surgical apparatus or a laser beam passable therefrom to create the desired blood flow paths between the artery and vein. Stents are provided for facilitating blood flow through the blood flow paths and the segment of the vein used as the bypass conduit. One such stent is specially constructed to carry arterial blood in one direction through the vein segment while allowing venous blood to continue to flow in the opposite direction through that venous segment.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing vascular anastomosis. A needle passer is used to pass one or more needles through tissue to thread one or more lengths of suture through the tissue. The needle passer is operable using one hand and includes a handle supporting a shaft assembly carrying first and second sets of needles connected by lengths of suture. An actuator assembly uncovers the first set of needles, moves them into a radially extended position, and then passes them through tissue, for example, the wall of a patient's aorta. The needle passer may be pistol-shaped with a trigger that is moved in one direction to sequentially uncover, radially extend, and move the first set of needles through the aorta around an aortotomy. The needles may then be pulled away from the patient to thread the suture through the tissue. A delivery device is used to deliver a member adapted to be secure to body tissue, such as a vascular conduit.

Abstract: A cannula includes a tubular body having a proximal end and distal blunt end, at least one lumen extending the length of the body, an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed in the lumen near the distal end of the body, and a transparent, tissue-separating tip substantially covering the distal end of the body. The tissue-separating tip is slightly blunted to inhibit avulsion of tissue and lateral vessels along the dissected cavity formed thereby. Endoscopic viewing through the tip is enhanced by tapering the inner walls thereof to a cusp adjacent the blunt tip in order to reduce visual distortion. Alternatively, a cannula includes a dissection probe and a removable or deflectable tip for exposing the probe and endoscope to facilitate viewing and the dissection of connective tissue and lateral vessels along the dissected cavity. Methods of using such cannulas produce an elongated cavity along the course of a blood vessel for subsequent harvesting or other treatment of the isolated blood vessel.

Abstract: An instrument for preparing a human patella for implanting a patellar prosthesis. A support member includes a quick-release base member mounted adjacent a first end of the support member. A reamer member is removably mounted on the quick-release base member. An attachment release member is resiliently mounted on the support member for movement into and out of engagement with the quick-release member and the reamer member. A stop member is adjustably mounted for limited movement on the support member to a plurality of calibrated positions for setting a controlled depth for movement of the reamer member.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid includes a gravity sensitive valve for receiving fluid from a fluid flow passageway and a pressure activated valve located downstream from the gravity sensitive valve. The gravity sensitive valve interrupts flow of fluid when the apparatus is not in use to prevent inadvertent opening of the pressure activated valve.

Abstract: A dilator/insert internally support the lateral nasal walls and securely stay in place without discomfort. It stays inserted by a pair of ledges (9a and 10a) and/or catches (7a and 8a), each resting behind a respective: limen nasi ridge (a somewhat vertical central protuberance on a lateral nasal wall); and/or a foot of the columella (the ‘meaty’ protuberance peripherally off the base of the columella). The insert is confined from shifting off those protuberances by being tall (distance between 1a and 2a); almost as tall near the entrances of the nose as the entrances themselves. When worn, the bridge (1a and 2a)/leg (3a, 4a an 5a, 6a) assemblies look like two central nose rings. The peripheral rigidity of the bridge/leg assemblies braces the lateral walls of the nose apart and keeps the ledges in position. Catches can position midway rearward on bottom legs; and they extend centrally enough to rest behind, without engaging, the feet of the columella.

Abstract: A suture anchor for facilitating the anchoring of soft tissue to a bony site includes a distal sharpened tip, and intermediate threaded section and a proximal drive head. The drive head is configured to receive a socket drive tool and has a suture-receiving eyelet formed therethrough. The threaded section is defined by a crest taper angle that is greater than the root taper angle.

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 middle expanded, removable disk implant for stabilizing adjacent cervical vertebrae. The implant is substantially rectangular in cross-sectional shape with a minimal height and a width greater than the height. The implant is detachably mounted to an applicator for insertion into the anatomical region between two adjacent cervical vertebrae from which the intervertebral disk has been removed, and once inserted, is positioned by anterior-posterior movement in the disk space to the position in which both the expanded, larger width middle portion and the smaller diameter end portions of the implant engage the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae and the implant is then rotated to bring the sides of the rectangularly-shaped implant defining the width of the implant, with its larger dimension, into engagement with the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae. A lock, in the form of a stabilizer bar, is then secured to the implant to prevent further rotation thereof.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant assembly comprising a stabilizing element, a securing element which attaches the stabilizing element to the bone, and a stopping member in the stabilizing element which inhibits the securing element from loosening or backing out of the bone. The stabilizing element has at least one bore with the stopping member therein. In one embodiment, the stopping member has a reversibly expandable inner and outer diameter to allow the securing element to pass posteriorly through the stopping member, but thereafter prevent or inhibit the securing element from anteriorly backing out of the posterior section of the transverse passageway.

Abstract: A surgical cutting system. The cutting system includes a cutter which has an inner sleeve that moves adjacent to an aspiration port of an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is coupled to a source of vacuum that pulls tissue into the outer port when the inner sleeve is moved away from the port. The inner sleeve then moves across the outer port and severs the tissue in a guillotine fashion. The tip of the inner sleeve may exert a spring force that assist in the cutting action of the cutter. The cutter includes a motor which creates an oscillating translational movement of the sleeve. The motor can be controlled by a controller that is coupled a foot pedal. The foot pedal and controller can be configured so that the motor decreases speed as the pedal is depressed by the operator. The inner sleeve is coupled to an aspiration line that pulls the severed tissue out of the cutter. The level of the aspiration vacuum pressure can be controlled by a variable regulator valve.

Abstract: IM revision tools include reamers with depth markings or stops, an impactor-extractor with a coupling for attaching to tools which are inserted into and removed from the IM canal, a resection guide tower to which a cutting block is attached and which includes a notch which serves as both a witness mark and a holder for a femoral or tibial collar, a reversible clean-up cutting block with a quick-connect clamp attachable to the guide tower for resecting the distal femur and separate left and right clean-up cutting blocks for resecting the proximal tibia, a selection of spacer blocks for measuring the space between the tibia and femur to determine the size of the components to be installed, a multiple cut cutting guide for preparing the femur, a set of 5 and 10 mm trial wedges, a trial stem valgus adapter, femoral sizing indicators which include indications of anterior/posterior offset, a stabilizer box cutting template which is attachable to the multiple cut cutting guide, and anterior/posterior offset adapters

Abstract: A delivery catheter for a radially expandable intraluminal stent or stented graft. The delivery catheter comprises an elongate catheter body defining proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. Disposed on the catheter body at a location proximal to the distal end thereof is an inflatable, expandable balloon. The balloon is at least partially fabricated from a conformable material for allowing the stent to be at least partially embedded therein when positioned thereupon.

Abstract: An ice thermal storage type air conditioner includes an outdoor unit 14 equipped with a compressor 12 and an outdoor heat exchanger 13, an indoor unit 17 equipped with an indoor heat exchanger 16 and an expansion valve 18b, and an ice thermal storage tank 5. The ice thermal storage tank is equipped with a heat exchanger exchanger used as a condenser when the accumulated heat is used. The heat exchanger has a pipe-shaped heat transfer tube 1 and a plate-shaped fin 2 installed to the heat transfer tube. The fin is installed vertically, and a plurality of rows of the heat transfer tubes and the fins are arranged.

Abstract: Instruments and methods are provided which permit a surgeon to implant multiple radial inserts within a patient's cornea through one or more incisions made into the cornea. Instruments provided by the invention include a corneal marker, a radial pocket-forming instrument, and a positioning instrument. In one method provided by the invention, the surgeon uses the corneal marker to mark the patient's cornea with an incision mark, radial pocket marks, and circumferential channels marks simultaneously. The surgeon forms clockwise and counter-clockwise intrastromal circumferential channels through a single incision into the cornea, and then the surgeon inserts the radial pocket-forming instrument through the incision and into one of the circumferential channels to form radial pockets beneath the radial pocket marks. The surgeon inserts radial intrastromal inserts through the incision and into the circumferential channels and positions them within the radial pockets using the positioning instrument.

Abstract: A miniature valve for filling the reservoir of an apparatus for the transdermal administration of a medicine including a) a substrate, b) a fuel charge arranged on the substrate opposite the passage to be opened through it, and c) an electric resistor placed in contact with the fuel charge so that the supply of this resistor with a predetermined electric energy ensures the combustion of the charge and the opening of the passage by local rupture of the substrate under the pressure of the fuel gases of the charge. The device is useful for filling a medicine reservoir for the transdermal administration medicine aided by inophoresis.

Abstract: For minimizing declination of the operational efficiency, hydrogen gas generated in an absorption type refrigerator is eliminated by reduction without exhausting to the outside. The hydrogen gas H2 remains close to the level surface 93 of a refrigerant in a condenser 9 is transferred together with a refrigerant vapor via an extraction pipe 92 to a condenser tank 91. The condenser tank 91 is equipped with a heated metal oxide which is allowed to come into direct contact with the hydrogen gas for carrying out its reduction. Accordingly, the hydrogen gas is eliminated and a trace of water is generated. The water is then returned back via the extraction pipe 92 to the condenser 9. As a result, the elimination of the hydrogen gas is successfully carried out while the water generated stays in the system, whereby the content of water in the refrigerant can be maintained to a desired level.

Abstract: This invention provides an air conditioning system with a superior dehumidifying and sensible heat processing capability as well as energy saving, by enhancing the heating ability for the regeneration air, as well as enabling to increase the cooling performance (sensible heat processing performance) for the process air, and comprises a desiccant 103 for adsorbing moisture from process air; and a heat pump 200, including a compressor 260, that operates by using process air as a low-temperature heat source 240 and regeneration air as a high-temperature heat source 220 so as to supply heat to regeneration air for regenerating the desiccant; wherein a high-temperature heat source heat exchanger for exchanging heat with pre-desiccant regeneration air and refrigerant comprises a plurality of sections 220A, 220B, 220C, 220D divided along an air flow direction, and regeneration air passes the sections in an opposite order to that of refrigerant so that refrigerant, once condensed in the heat pump, is further cooled.

Abstract: A surgical knife blade of the type primarily intended for making incisions in the eye, though suitable for incising virtually any spherical surface, is disclosed. The blade is uniquely characterized by its construction to include cutting edge bevels of different transverse dimension on the anterior surface of the blade with respect to the transverse dimension of corresponding bevels on the posterior surface of the blade, such that the blade of this invention will incise a substantially straight, perpendicular cut into the eye or other spherical surface.