Abstract: A stent, for example for maintaining the patency of a duct such as a biliary duct, is provided that includes a plurality of radially extending wings. The wings project from a core which has a guide wire or wire stylet lumen. Each of the wings preferably includes a plurality of minute, longitudinally extending grooves for bile flow even in the event of tumor ingrowth. Advantageously the core itself is preformed into a helical configuration.

Abstract: A luminal stent inserted and fixed in a vessel, such as a blood vessel, so as to maintain the shape of the vessel, and a device for inserting and fixing the luminal stent, are disclosed. The luminal stent is formed of a yarn of bioabsorbable polymer fibers, which yarn is shaped in a non-woven non-knitted state in, for example, a meandering state, around the peripheral surface of an imaginary tubular member. The bioabsorbable polymer includes polylactic acid, polyglycol acid, polyglactin, polydioxanone, polyglyconate, polyglycol acid and a polylactic acid-.epsilon.-caprolactone copolymer. The device for inserting and fixing the luminal stent consists in a catheter having a balloon-forming portion in the vicinity of a distal end thereof and the luminal stent fitted on the balloon-forming portion and affixed to the balloon-forming portion by a bio-compatible material, such as an in vivo decomposable polymer, such as polylactic acid, water-soluble protein or fibrin sizing agent.

Abstract: A device and method for creating an initial cavity in biological tissue within a given tissue type or layer and then expanding the initial cavity into a larger predetermined final cavity by using a dissecting propagating device to dissect the tissue along a plane defined by the initial cavity. The device and method may also produce the additional effect of immediate or delayed tissue expansion resulting in the production of additional tissue length to facilitate excision or to facilitate geometric rearrangement, advancement, excision or closure during surgical procedures. The expansion effect may relate to the dissected layer or an adjacent layer included in the tissue above, below or around the dissected cavity. The dissection method includes a tunneling step followed by a dissector device introduction step followed by an inflation, expansion, dissection step. The device and method of the present invention can be used to perform skin undermining in the subcutaneous fat layer for facelifting cosmetic surgery.

Abstract: A lancet or finger-stick device operable to make a small incision into the vascular tissue of the skin to induce a controllable blood flow is particularly suited for incisions of the finger-tip of a patient. The device and method provide multiple use by a single-user in that the device provides an autologous re-use feature, such that an individual can reset and reuse the device on the same patient in case of an accidental misfire prior to actual use or if the first incision does not provide a sufficient blood sample. A disabling mechanism which the individual performs immediately prior to disposal of the used device is incorporated into the invention. These features permit the user of a consumer self-test or professional-use test to re-stick an individual's fingertip in the event that the first try is unsuccessful or the blood flow is inadequate.

Abstract: An acupuncture needle assembly includes an outer tubular member having an upper portion tube with open upper and lower ends, and with an elongated slot in the lower end, and a lower portion tube with open upper and lower ends and secured to the upper portion tube; a plug with an opening secured to the open upper end of the upper portion tube; an operating bar slidably positioned through the plug and in the outer tubular member, and having an upper part extending out through the upper end of the upper portion tube and having helical threads, a lower part for holding one end of a needle such that an opposite end of the needle can extend through the open lower end of the lower portion tube, and a hole in the lower part; a pin secured in the hole in the operating bar and slidable in the elongated slot in the upper portion tube to prevent rotation of the operating bar in the outer tubular member, while permitting axial movement of the operating bar in the outer tubular member; a cap securable to the lower end of t

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: The present invention provides a lumen support device, or a stent, used to open or expand a body lumen. The stent incorporates elongated parallel stent components with circumferential members, fingers, which weave into paired slots of an adjacent stent component. This weave-like interlocking configuration enables the stent to expand radially without yielding or plastically deforming the material of which the stent is fabricated. The weave-like mechanism allows for uniform, smooth expansion without change in longitudinal dimensions of the complete assembly. Once assembled, the plurality of parallel elongated stent components form a cylindrical configuration. The invention provides a stent able to support body lumens and adapt to curves or irregularities in body lumens without losing its formation or its longitudinal dimensions. It is designed to permit flexing both radially and longitudinally to conform to the curved body of the applicable lumen.

Abstract: A closed-loop drug delivery system uses patient response and rule based decision making methods to achieve operator specified responses for diagnostic purposes. In the preferred embodiment, cardiac diagnosis is performed by pharmacologically stressing the heart by administration of an exercise simulating agent drug. In the preferred method, a protocol is defined, which preferably includes a target for a physiologic variable, such as heart rate, and a plan to achieve that target value. Preferably, the plan includes a specification of the desired rate of increase in that variable, such as the rate of increase in the heart rate per minute. The plan comprises the desired changes in the physiologic variable as a function of time. While any desired function may be used, the more common modes include RAMP, HOLD, LEVEL and TARGET mode. In one aspect of this invention, the protocol may be varied by the operator after drug administration has begun.

Abstract: In a therapeutic medical method, a pump and a container are surgically inserted into a patient's abdominal cavity so that the pump is operatively connected to an outlet of the container. The outlet is surgically connected to a selected organ in the abdominal cavity of the patient so that the container can communicate with the organ via the outlet. Subsequently, the pump is operated to move a medical treatment composition from the container to the selected organ in accordance with a first delivery schedule. The progress of the patient is monitored during a period of treatment of the organ at the first delivery schedule, and subsequently, in response to information which is acquired during the step of monitoring and which concerns an effect on the patient of the first treatment schedule, the pump is operated to move the medical treatment composition from the container to the organ in accordance with a second delivery schedule different from the first.

Abstract: To reduce damage to surrounding tissue while fragmenting some tissue such as for example not damaging the capsular wall while removing the lens during cataract removal surgery or not damaging artery or vein walls during bypass surgery while freeing the artery or vein to be transplanted, an incision is made for the insertion of surface-discriminating, rotating, fragmenting handpiece. The surface-discriminating fragmenting handpiece fragments and permits aspiration of the tissue without damaging the surrounding wall by fragmenting surfaces of higher inertia material but moving at a rate of speed and having openings between them of such a size that the more integrated lower mass, more flexible and smoother tissue is moved away from the fragmenting zone and the higher mass, lower flexibility or rougher tissue is fragmented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blood filtration unit which is to be implanted in a vessel (11) of a patient's body, especially for retaining blood clots, comprising a first filter (2) which is to be implanted temporarily, a first catheter (20) for introducing the first filter (2) into the vessel, a second filter (1) which is to be implanted permanently, the second filter (1) having a central opening of which the diameter is sufficiently large to permit the passage of the first filter (2) through it, and a second catheter (22) for introducing the second filter (1) into the vessel (11) and for removing the first filter (2) from the vessel (11).

Abstract: To reduce damage to surrounding tissue while fragmenting some tissue such as for example not damaging the capsular wall while removing the lens during cataract removal surgery or not damaging artery or vein walls during bypass surgery while freeing the artery or vein to be transplanted, an incision is made for the insertion of surface--a handpiece tip. The tiop is rotated and reciprocated ultrasonically at the same time so that tissue is fragmented by the combined motion of a fragmenting surface perpendicular to the surface and at an angle to the surface many times during a single revolution or part of a revolution.

Abstract: A device and method for creating an initial cavity in biological tissue within a given tissue type or layer and then expanding the initial cavity into a larger predetermined final cavity by using a dissecting propagating device to dissect the tissue along a plane defined by the initial cavity. The device and method may also produce the additional effect of immediate or delayed tissue expansion resulting in the production of additional tissue length to facilitate excision or to facilitate geometric rearrangement, advancement, excision or closure during surgical procedures. The expansion effect may relate to the dissected layer or an adjacent layer included in the tissue above, below or around the dissected cavity. The dissection method includes a tunneling step followed by a dissector device introduction step followed by an inflation, expansion, dissection step. The device and method of the present invention can be used to perform skin undermining in the subcutaneous fat layer for facelifting cosmetic surgery.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent is constructed to provide improved hoop strength over conventional stents. The stent includes a plurality of elongated members extending in a circumferential direction around an axis and curving in two opposite directions transverse to the circumferential direction. Each of the elongated members is curved over substantially its entire extent, preferably so that the curved portions define an arc of a circle. The elongated members are joined to one another at cusps pointing in opposite axial directions. The cusps are movable in opposite axial directions between an expanded condition in which the opposed cusps are relatively close to one another and the elongated members define an expanded circumference, and a collapsed condition in which the opposed cusps are relatively distant to one another and the elongated members define a collapsed circumference which is smaller than the expanded circumference.

Abstract: An appetizing pacifier (10) comprising a curved mouth guard (12). A nipple (14) is provided. A facility (16) is for attaching the nipple (14) centrally to a concave side (18) of the curved mouth guard (12), so that the nipple (14) will extend from the curved mouth guard (12). A structure (20) within the curved mouth guard (12) and communicating with the nipple (14), is for holding a flavored liquid (22). When the nipple (14) is inserted into a mouth of a baby (24) and the baby (24) sucks on the nipple (14), the baby (24) will self feed on the flavored liquid (22).

Abstract: The refractive surgery keratotomy knife has a handle with a footplate and a holding member for receiving and holding a flared surgical blade fixed to the handle and knife body. The footplate is adapted to be placed against the cornea of the eye. The blade is held by a blade support with the cutting edge of the blade extending beyond the footplate for forming an incision in the cornea of the eye by pressing the blade directly into the cornea tissue.

Abstract: A system for performing an end-to-side vascular anastomosis, including an anastomosis device, an application instrument and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis. The system is applicable for performing an anastomosis between a vascular graft and the ascending aorta in coronary artery bypass surgery, particularly in port-access CABG surgery. A first aspect of the invention includes a vascular anastomosis staple. A first configuration has two parts: an anchor member, forming the attachment with the target vessel wall and a coupling member, forming the attachment with the bypass graft vessel. The anastomosis is completed by inserting the coupling member, with the graft vessel attached, into the anchor member. A second configuration combines the functions of the anchor member and the coupling member into a one-piece anastomosis staple.

Abstract: A filtering device and method of preventing embolism and/or the distension of blood vessel walls is provided. The device can be easily put in place and can also be removed from the patient. The device comprises a spring-like active part and a rectilinear actuator. The actuator is used to prolongate or activate the active part. The active part has a shape memory corresponding to the shape of a spiral or a semi-circle. The active part can be straightened and will regain its shape memory position upon installation in the patient's vein. The filter can be used on blood vessels of various sizes because the user can vary the amount of the active part regains its original configuration in the vein. The filter can be secured into place and has the advantage of being removable when no longer needed.

Abstract: A urine tube extends through a balloon which is inflatable in the neck of a bladder to form a seal around the urine tube. The balloon has a shape corresponding to the shape of the bladder chamber at the urethra orifice to facilitate establishing a seal. A valve is provided on the outlet end of the urine tube and an air tube extends along the substantial length of the urine tube into the balloon. A hypodermic syringe or the like may be inserted into the inlet end of the air tube for inflating the balloon. A hydrogel collar is positioned around the urine tube against the body at the outlet end of the urethra to hold the balloon in tight engagement with the bladder neck at the urethra orifice.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for transplanting hair. According to the method, an instrument is provided having a concentric cylindrical shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis extending therebetween A blade is on the distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft, and an escape port is provided in the wall of the shaft near the distal end. The instrument is inserted into the skin to a preselected depth where the skin is below the escape port to form a cylindrical incision. The instrument is then removed from the skin. The step of inserting the instrument into the skin is repeated, with any accumulated skin in the shaft being forced through the escape port. In this way, the shaft does not become clogged with tissue after repeated use. A graft of skin having at least one hair is then placed into at least one of the cylindrical incisions.