Abstract: A medical effector system comprised of a bedside unit and a procedure unit. The bedside unit contains a series of connection points for receiving inputs from a series of patient monitors. The procedure unit contains a patient monitoring and medical effector program, and a drug delivery pump or magnetic flux generator capable of delivering therapeutic energy to a patient. The medical effector system contains the capability to issue and receive a request from a non-sedated patient, issue and receive a request from a sedated patient and then to calculate a time difference. The medical effector program operates the pump or magnetic flux generator based upon at least some of the patient outputs and program inputs including a calculated time difference. A removable umbilical cable connects the two units and allows the output of the patient monitors as well as other information to travel between the two units.

Abstract: Disclosed is an interface between a drug delivery cassette and a medical effector system. The cassette may be mounted to the medical effector system in such a way that a fluid tube located on the cassette is positioned adjacent to a pump located on the medical effector system. The medical effector system may purge the fluid line of air by activating the pump and forcing fluid through the fluid line until a sensor positioned to monitor the fluid line indicates that fluid and not air is present in the tube. To prevent air purging of the fluid tube when connected to the patient, the medical effector system prohibits air purging unless the drug delivery end portion of the fluid tube is in a designated storage site located on the cassette. This is accomplished with a position sensor at the storage site that monitors the position of the fluid tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A drive element is associated with and engages the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct. A tension release mechanism is associated with the tension element.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A symmetrical drive system including a drive element associated with and engaging the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct is further provided. In accordance with an alternate embodiment an apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct including an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A drive element is associated with and engaging the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct. A release mechanism is provided for the tension element.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. The elongated member has a compressible ventral surface and a substantially rigid dorsal periphery, wherein the elongated member includes a fluid bladder positioned along the ventral surface. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A drive element is associated with and engages the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct. Alternate embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for achieving weight loss in a patient is disclosed. The apparatus has a barrier material and an applicator for dispensing the barrier material about the intestine. An injector is used to place the barrier material to block nutrient transfer from the intestine into the blood stream. The barrier material is a polymerizable adhesive that can be injected interstitially between layers of the intestine, or injected into vascular structures to partially block the flow of blood to the nutrient absorbing layers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drug delivery infusion pump assembly containing a drug delivery pump, a drug delivery cassette, a pump door, and a housing adapted to receive a drug vial. A drug vial centering mechanism ensures varieties of drug vial sizes are compatible with this device. The drug delivery cassette is capable of being positioned on the drug delivery infusion pump assembly so the drug delivery pump will interface with a drug delivery tube located on the drug delivery cassette.

Abstract: A fastening device for clamping and fastening tissue together with fasteners formed from an adhesive is disclosed. An embodiment of the adhesive fastening device can clamp a first and a second portion of tissue together between a first and a second jaw, and can place a fluid polymer adhesive into tissue and form it into a polymerized surgical fastener within the tissue. The adhesive fastener can be formed as a polymerized shank or shaft extending through the tissue, and can have one or more heads formed on the shank. The shank can be formed solely from the polymerizable adhesive, or can be formed from another material such as nitinol, titanium, stainless steel, suture, or a plastic. Shanks of other material can be combined with the adhesive. Alternately, an adhesive fastener can be formed extending distally from a distal end of the surgical device. And, an adhesive fastener can be formed around a luminal tissue or within luminal tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drug-delivery cassette for use with a drug delivery device. The cassette includes a main board and a luer site base portion connected to the main board for positioning a luer on the main board. A drip chamber is included on the main board to collect any drug that exits the luer when the luer is attached to the luer site portion. A deflectable sensor beam is positioned to detect the presence or absence of a luer in the luer site base portion. The drug-delivery cassette further includes a drug vial spike attachable to and detachable from the cassette main board that is connected to the luer by way of a drug delivery tube.

Abstract: A partially reusable surgical stapler for deploying staples into tissue. The stapler has a body with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The proximal end includes a handle while the distal end includes a staple cartridge holder and an opposing anvil. The stapler also has an actuator module for deploying staples. The actuator module includes at least one longitudinally movable member for sequentially ejecting staples towards the anvil. The actuator module is readily removable and replaceable to and from the body. The components of the stapler body can be disassembled, reconditioned and reassembled for reuse in a different surgical procedure.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for performing a surgical stapling procedure by providing a stapler comprising a handle and a staple cartridge with an opposing anvil. The staple cartridge contains a plurality of surgical staples. The stapler also has an actuator module for deploying staples, wherein the actator has a longitudinally movable member for sequentially ejecting staples towards the anvil. The method involves operating the actuator module so as to eject the plurality of staples, and removing the actuator module from the body and discarding the actuator module. The method also involves sterilizing the body.

Abstract: A surgical device to stanch the flow of blood is disclosed. The surgical device can place an implantable adhesive over or around varices or other bleeders. The surgical device has a vacuum system for capturing tissue and an adhesive system to apply adhesive to the captured tissue. A vacuum chamber is used to contact tissue and contains a chamber therein for the reception of tissue. An adhesive applicator is provided within the vacuum chamber and moves longitudinally therein to apply adhesive to tissue. The surgical device can apply an adhesive patch to tissue or inject adhesive into tissue. Alternately, an adhesive actuator and a chemical agent can be dispensed to tissue within the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a respiratory cannula assembly to deliver and receive gases from a patient. The cannula assembly contains two oral prongs for delivering and receiving gases from the patient as well as at least one gas delivery nasal prong and at least one gas receiving nasal prong. The gas receiving nasal prong extends further into the patients nostril than the gas delivery nasal prong. The cannula assembly further contains a connector that aids in coupling to a medical device, the connector including independent oral and nasal moisture traps that remove moisture from exhaled patient gases.

Abstract: An apparatus for achieving weight loss in a patient is disclosed. The apparatus has a barrier material and an applicator for dispensing the barrier material about the intestine. An injector is used to place the barrier material to block nutrient transfer from the intestine into the blood stream. The barrier material is a polymerizable adhesive that can be injected interstitially between layers of the intestine, or injected into vascular structures to partially block the flow of blood to the nutrient absorbing layers.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device, and in particular for performing various surgical procedures using an instrument having an end effector that can be articulated relative to an elongate shaft of the device. In certain embodiments, the end effector can also optionally rotate relative to the elongate shaft of the device, and/or the shaft can rotate relative to a handle of the device.