Abstract: An uncured or partially cured, collagen-based material is delivered to a selected site in a blood vessel and is crosslinked in the blood vessel by laser energy or other suitable energy to form an endovascular stent. The collagen-based material can be delivered to the blood vessel as a coating on an inflatable balloon mounted on the distal end of a catheter. The collagen-based material can also be delivered to the blood vessel in liquid form. The liquid collagen-based material is forced through a porous balloon to form either an imperforate tubular configuration or a tubular mesh configuration. The collagen-based material is preferably crosslinked by laser radiation carried through an optical fiber to a diffusing tip located within the balloon.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials and methods for preparing medical instruments which cause reduced or enhanced artifact on diagnostic images. According to the invention, a reduced artifact instrument may be prepared using titanium alloy compositions or plastic compositions disclosed herein. An enhanced artifact instrument may be prepared by incorporating artifact causing materials into artifact free instruments. Such instruments are suitable for use during diagnostic imaging procedures, for example, magnetic resonance imaging. The invention also provides a new penetrating end for penetrating instruments used to perform medical and surgical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Abstract: A surgical tool system (20) with replaceable surgical cutting accessories (26) and attachments (34) for holding the tools. This system includes a handpiece (22) to which the cutting accessory and attachment are releasably attached. Collet (50) located inside a drill housing (44) located at one end of the handpiece securely fastens the surgical tool to a motor (24) also located in the handpiece. Leaf spring assembly (46) flush with the drill housing releasably secures the attachment in place. A single actuating collar (52) located around the outside of the drill housing both controls the locking force supplied by the collet and selectively relaxes the leaf spring assembly.

Abstract: An overlay dual balloon catheter. Two balloons composed of differing materials are employed, the balloons being disposed so as to overlap one another but not being bonded to one another, so that adjacent surfaces of the two balloons are permitted to move relative to one another, to provide improved surface and structural characteristics in a balloon unit. Preferably, an outer balloon, disposed on the exterior of the catheter is composed of latex, silicone, or a thermoplastic elastomer while an inner balloon, disposed underneath the first balloon is composed of a material employed in existing angioplasty balloons such as polyester or polyurethane. The overlay dual balloon catheter may be used in angioplasty, embolectomy and thrombectomy.

Abstract: A forceps having a closed loop defined by the ends of beveled grasping tips attached to a pair of jaws of locking forceps in a closed position, a series of mating serrations on the jaws ending proximate the loop, and having an hourglass shape when viewed in profile. The forceps reduces slippage of the vagus by a raised bevelled ridge on the closed loop facing inward towards the aperture. The oval-shaped and hourglass profiled aperture defined by the closed loop is shaped and sized to permit a surgeon to firmly grasp the vagus nerve, and to elevate it up and out of the incision area, in order to facilitate the remaining procedure. The preferred aperture opening is defined by the loop having a 3 mm transverse inner diameter and 4 mm longitudinal inner diameter. The hourglass profile allows the vagus nerve to rest in a transverse groove of the tip, defining the constriction found in the hourglass profile.

Abstract: A self-contained blood withdrawal apparatus (20) which includes a movable appendage piercing mechanism (27), a suction mechanism (30) and a specimen storage container (29). A base portion (21) is formed with a cavity opening (24) over which the appendage (10) is placed and a first passageway (25) extending from the opening to the storage container. The appendage piercing mechanism (27) is aligned with the cavity opening (24) and is movable between a retracted position and an extended appendage piercing position. Additionally, the suction mechanism (30), for facilitating withdrawal of the blood from the appendage, is coupled to the base portion (21) and communicates with the cavity opening through a second passageway (31). Accordingly, present invention provides a unitary apparatus which pierces an appendage, facilitates blood withdrawal and stores the specimen in a container.

Abstract: A method of treating the skin by specific massage procedure, using one or more brushes. The method comprises the steps of providing a facial and a body massaging brush. A clockwise brush massage is applied to stimulate specific designated areas of the body for a predetermined period of time. The brush massage is performed in a specific sequence of the designated areas in compliance with a network of acupuncture points. The method of this invention improves blood circulation and simultaneously provides an exfoliation of skin tissue.

Abstract: The methods and devices of the invention include an encoder, an endoscopic robotic instrument, and an encoder/robotic instrument interface. A preferred embodiment of the encoder has a chest/shoulder plate provided with telescoping tubes and joints. Each joint is provided with a direct drive potentiometer to monitor movement and provide a corresponding signal. The chest plate is preferably adaptable to a large range of human chest sizes and the telescopic segments are strapped to the arms of the practitioner at the elbows. A pistol grip is provided at the wrist end of the telescopic segments. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the encoder encodes flexion and rotation at the shoulder, elbow and wrist of each arm in addition to gripping at each hand. The encoding device is coupled to a circuit which operates a servo system. The servo system includes a series of servo motors. A series of pulleys corresponding to the number of servo motors are arranged in a housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for temporarily implanting an intraluminal stent in a body lumen and its subsequent removal. A stent is formed from a thin sheet that has been wound around itself into a generally cylindrical roll. The stent has a deployed configuration with a deployed diameter generally the size of the lumen diameter. The stent has a delivery configuration, formed by winding the stent more tightly than the deployed configuration, with the delivery diameter smaller than the deployed diameter in order to allow low profile delivery into the body lumen. The stent will transform from the delivery configuration to the deployed configuration when exposed to body heat. The stent can be deployed by an intraluminal delivery catheter that secures the stent in its delivery configuration during intraluminal delivery of the stent. The stent can be removed from the body lumen via a removal catheter that coils the stent into a sheath at the end of the removal catheter.

Abstract: A manual dental and medical living tissue cutting instrument for obtaining living tissue grafts. The manual dental and medical tissue cutting instrument includes an elongated member with two portions. One portion is sized and shaped to be grasped by the hand of the user of the cutting instrument and the other adjacent blade holding portion that is located at the end of the elongated member and is adapted to hold two removable blades. The blade holding portion is adapted to hold the two removable blades in an angular relationship with each other in such a manner that the pointed ends of the removable blades either touch or come in close proximity to each other. The invention includes both the elongated member with its handle portion and blade holding portion without the removable blades and the combination of the elongated member and the removable blades.

Abstract: A safety penetrating instrument for penetrating an anatomical cavity wall to gain access to an anatomical cavity includes a cannula having a distal end for introduction in the anatomical cavity, a penetrating member disposed in the cannula and having a distal end for penetrating the anatomical cavity wall protection means for placing the safety penetrating instrument in a protected state where the penetrating member distal end is protected and not exposed and trigger means proximally movable during penetration of the anatomical cavity wall for triggering the protection means to place the safety penetrating instrument in the protected state upon the trigger means moving a predetermined proximal distance. Where the predetermined proximal distance corresponds to the thickness of the anatomical cavity wall, the safety penetrating instrument will be placed in the protected state upon introduction of the cannula distal end in the anatomical cavity.

Abstract: A tongue scraping apparatus is provided for use in cleaning the upper surface of a user's tongue. The apparatus includes a curved blade 10 presenting a parabolic plan shape and including a pair of proximal ends 14, and a pair of elongated handles 12, each including a distal end 24 connected to one of the proximal ends of the blade. The blade includes a relatively sharp lower edge 16, an opposed, relatively smooth upper edge 18, and opposed front and back faces 20, 22 extending between and connecting the lower and upper edges together. The handles 12 are each provided with a depending thumb press 28 for facilitating gripping of the apparatus, and the center of gravity of the apparatus is offset from the thumb presses in a direction toward the free ends 26 of the handles so that the apparatus rests on the free ends and thumb presses when placed on a horizontal support surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively treating a targeted portion of internal body tissue of a patient by providing an internal electrode at a point adjacent the tissue to be treated and electrodes external to the patient's body. Fluid containing Ionic molecules is supplied to a location between the internal electrode and the external electrodes and an electric field radiating outwardly from the internal electrode to the external electrodes is created so that said fluid flows outwardly away from said internal electrode into the tissue to be treated.

Abstract: A tubular intraluminal graft in the form of a tubular diametrically adjustable stent having a tubular covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene which is less than 0.10 mm thick. The covering may be on the exterior surface of the stent, or on the interior surface of the stent, or both. The covering may be affixed to the stent by an adhesive which is preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical instrument and specifically is a device for delivering embolic coils to a selected site within the vasculature or other lumen of a human body via use of a catheter. The invention includes the coils as well. In particular, the device uses embolic coils having a receiving slot on one end of the coil; a catheter control wire or pusher guidewire having a hook which cooperatingly engages the coil's receiving slot is used as a coil pusher to eject the coil at the chosen site. The coils of this invention may also be placed within the lumen with a catheter in a nose-to-tail fashion and pushed into the body lumen. Pushing the coil assembly via the pusher from the distal end of the catheter body uncouples the most distal coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing congested prostate fluid including a head having a size suitable for fitting in a human rectum and through a sphincter and having a surface suitable for rubbing a prostate gland, and a rod connected to a bottom of the head and extending outwardly therefrom. The rod serves to position the head and guide a movement of the head as the sphincter contracts and relaxes. An abutment surface is affixed to the rod distal the head. The abutment surface serves to contact a perineum area and to push up on the perineum area as the sphincter contracts. The rod is a rigid rod having a generally L-shaped or C-shaped configuration with a radius of curvature such that the head tilts toward the prostate gland as the sphincter contracts and draws the head upwardly. The head has a generally ellipsoidal shape. The head is formed of rubber-like material.

Abstract: An ophthalmologic knife includes a handle, and a blade having a base portion fixed to the tip of the handle and an incision-forming portion integrally formed with the base portion. The entire portion of the blade or at least part of the incision-forming portion which is inserted into the cornea of an eyeball has an arcuate cross section. By using the ophthalmologic knife, a three-dimensional incision having an arcuate cross section is formed in the cornea or the like. When a three-dimensional object having a cylindrical cross section or the like is inserted into the incision, the convex portion surrounded by the incision is bent toward the inside of the eyeball. This allows smooth insertion of the object.

Abstract: A decorative cabinet door assembly (10) for providing an aesthetically pleasing and easily repairable outer surface for a cabinet. The door (10) includes a frame member (14) having an open section (20) disposed therewithin. A removable center panel (22) is disposed within the open section (20) and includes an array of tiles (24) disposed thereon. The tiles (24) are attached to the panel (22) by a resilient adhesive (62).

Abstract: Diseased tissue is liquefied in the presence of non-diseased tissue by contact with a paddle moving with angular velocity. The edge of the paddle is dull and the angular velocity is sufficient to batter the diseased tissue into a liquid without adversely affecting the structure and function of the non-diseased tissue. The shape of the paddle and the rotational speed can be designed and chosen depending on the consistency of the tissue to be resected, whether hard or soft. Upon liquefaction, the diseased tissue is removed by vacuum aspiration. This instrument therefore gives the neurosurgeon the ability to differentially resect diseased tissue while preserving the surrounding structures intact.

Abstract: A one-time-use, self-powered, disposable lancet apparatus packaged both as strips comprising a plurality of lancets and as individually packaged lancets. A novel lancet blade design comprises means for attaching each blade in a loader stack for an automated assembly machine. Individually packaged lancets are disclosed in both one-step and two-step embodiments. In each case, every lancet comprises a self-contained package which houses a powered lancet blade before use and a spent blade after use to assure safety from inadvertent sticks both before and after a lancing procedure.