Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and system for surgically bonding tissue together provides a beam of coherent light at a wavelength corresponding to a specific tissue thickness at which full absorption of the laser energy occurs, and adjusts the energy of the laser beam in response to tissue temperature throughout the tissue thickness to prevent the tissue temperature from either exceeding a predetermined limit or varying outside a predetermined range. Preferably, the coherent light beam has a center wavelength of 1.9 .mu.m, and is variable between 1.85 and 1.91 .mu.m.

Abstract: A circulatory apparatus for assisting the movement of fluids with a pulsatile flow. The circulatory apparatus includes a restrictable tube, an element for passively restricting a segment of the tube, two or more elements for selectively restricting segments of the tube, and a controller for directing selective restricting elements. The controller directs restricting elements in a manner that provides a cyclical pulsatile pattern of restriction along the length of the tube.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength surgical laser apparatus of improved construction employs a fluid-filled stimulated Raman scattering cell in an optical feedback path of a pump laser having a power in a range suitable for surgery, and drives the Raman cell at a high repetition rate in a manner to produce a laser output at a substantially shifted wavelength at a power commensurate with that of the pump laser. In a preferred system, the relative proportions of pump light and Raman scattered light are varied to achieve a desired cutting or coagulating action. Preferably, the pump laser is operated at a pulse repetition rate above five hundred Hz. The fluid Raman medium is pumped across the optical axis of the cell. The flow system effectively doubles the Raman conversion efficiency and permits high power output while lowering the Raman lasing threshold.

Abstract: A vascular connector has a rough surfaced skirt which is trimmed to a size for surgical attachment, and a smooth central tube centrally extending through the skirt to a point upstream of the rough surface. A collar centrally affixed to the skirt releasably engages the tube, which in turn may be fabricated as a permanently attached input conduit of a total artificial heart. For installing the connectors, a skeletal frame fixture secures the central tubes or collars of plural connectors in defined positions corresponding to the attachment ports of the intended pump device.

Abstract: A periodontal probe has a probe finger extending from a handle to an L-shaped distal end which includes a tip adapted for insertion into a periodontal pocket and formed of a thermally insulative material. A temperature sensing element is mounted at the extreme end of the tip. Conductive leads extend from the sensing element, through the probe tip to the handle. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor is a thermocouple or thermistor, and the tip is sealed within an epoxy outer skin. The tip tapers so that the thermal mass of the probe in the vicinity of the sensing element quickly attains the temperature of surrounding tissue while minimally perturbing that temperature. The handle may contain signal processing or temperature display units, and the probe tip preferably includes graduations for indicating probe depth. Interchangeable sensor matching circuit elements adapt sensor elements having different characteristics to a common display driver.

Abstract: An intra-arterial cardiac support system including multiple balloons for placement in the descending aorta with one balloon serving as a pumping balloon and one or more balloons serving as valve balloons, at least one of the valve balloons being positioned distal to the natural heart. The balloons are individually inflated and deflated to provide for sequential pumping action, with the sequence operating in timed relation to the sytstole and diastole of the natural heart.

Abstract: An artificial heart system employing left and right pumping chambers each divided by a membrane into a blood pumping chamber and a hydraulic pumping chamber and a hydraulic pumping system for alternately pumping hydraulic fluid from said left hydraulic chamber toward said right hydraulic chamber and vice versa. A balancing chamber including a flexible membrane placed in the left atrium so that the membrane changes position with changes in the patient's blood pressure, the hydraulic portion of said balancing chamber being fluidically coupled to the right hydraulic pumping chamber in order to allow for a different pumping volume between the left blood pumping chamber and the right blood pumping chamber. A control system employing an algorithm to control the speed of the hydraulic pumping and the direction of flow of the hydraulic pumping in response to sensors sensing the left atrial pressure and the completeness of stroke of the left blood pumping chamber.

Abstract: A periodontal probe has a probe finger extending from a handle to an L-shaped distal end which includes a probe stem portion adapted for insertion into a periodontal pocket and formed of a thermally insulative material. A temperature sensing element is mounted at the extreme end of the stem portion. Conductive leads extend from the sensing element, through the probe tip to the handle. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor is a thermistor which, together with the probe stem portion, is sealed within an epoxy outer skin. The tip tapers so that the thermal mass of the probe in the vicinity of the sensing element quickly attains the temperature of surrounding tissue while minimally perturbing that temperature. The handle contains signal processing and temperature display units, and the probe tip includes graduations for indicating probe depth. Interchangeable sensor matching circuit elements adapt sensor elements having different characteristics to a common display driver.

Abstract: A tunable alkali metallic vapor laser system is disclosed. Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a low pressure atomic alkali metallic vapor of potassium or cesium is utilized wherein the atomic vapor is provided and then primed to populate an intermediate level such as the 4P.sub.1/2 level for potassium and the 6P.sub.1/2 level for cesium from which the desired upper laser level is accessible. After the population is created at the intermediate level, it is pumped to a virtual level near the desired upper laser level by a tunable dye laser and, via the SRS process, generates the tunable output laser beam.