Abstract: A dilating and support apparatus with disease inhibitors and methods for use is disclosed that is particularly useful for repairing and/or serving as a conduit for body passageways that require reinforcement, dilatation, disease prevention or the like. Such apparatuses are utilized to deliver a therapy, that therapy being from a family of devices, drugs, or any of a variety of other elements to a specific location within the body. The instant disclosure provides a system of combining a novel radial deployment and/or drug delivery therapy with existing balloon dilatation therapy into one device. This combination will yield a significant decrease in cost to the healthcare system as well as providing a therapy to the patient with increased safety and efficacy. Further, the instant invention provides a novel and improved platform for synthetic/tissue interface between the device and the body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to shock absorbers with damping adjusters which vary the damping provided during compression and rebound strokes. The shock absorber includes a cylinder within which a piston is movably mounted for movement within the cylinder. Bypass openings open into the cylinder interior at axially spaced-apart positions. The bypass openings are coupled by a bypass channel. A pressurized gas container is fluidly coupled to the cylinder interior with a movable barrier separating the pressurized gas container and the cylinder interior. Compression and rebound damping adjusters may be used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating tissue using an electrosurgical system. The system includes an electrosurgical system having an RF generator, a treatment electrode electrically coupled to the RF generator and positioned in contact with target tissue to be treated, and a spark gap switch positioned between the RF generator and the target tissue. The spark gap includes a threshold voltage and is configured to prevent conduction of current from the RF generator to the tissue until the voltage across the spark gap reaches the threshold voltage. The method includes the steps of using the RF generator to apply a voltage across the spark gap switch, the spark gap switch causing conduction of current from the RF generator to the target tissue once the voltage across the spark gap reaches the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A target tissue localization device (28) has outer and inner members (30, 32) which are longitudinally movable relative to one another. An anchor (42) is secured to the outer and inner members and is movable from a radially-contracted configuration to a radially-expanded configuration. The anchor may be a tubular mesh anchor. The anchor may have a sufficiently large cross-sectional area when in the radially-expanded configuration to substantially eliminate inadvertent dislodgment of the anchor once radially-expanded. In use, the location of the target tissue (56) is determined and the distal end of the localization device is passed through the patient's skin (58) and to the target tissue to create a tissue track (60) between the patient's skin and the target tissue. The target tissue includes near and far sides (62, 64). The anchor element, located at the target tissue is expanded to an expanded configuration. The method the anchor element may be located on the far side of the target tissue.

Abstract: A method for controlled removal of surface tissue layer portions with a non-contact energy delivery modality that applies electrical energy to the targeted tissue surface to cause electrochemical ablation. The system provides (i) a UV energy source for irradiating a beam path through a selected neutral gas environment overlying the targeted tissue thereby creating an ionized gas volume (i.e., a conductive non-equilibrium plasma), and (ii) an electrical source for creating an intense electrical field in the ionized gas volume to thereby apply energy to the targeted surface layer to cause volatilization and removal of the surface layer in a plasma-mediated ablation. The ultrafast plasma creation events are repeated at a high repetition rate to ablate surface layer portions in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A system for atraumatic removal of skin surface layers in a treatment to induce neocollagenesis in the dermis to reduce wrinkles and alter the architecture of the dermal layers. A preferred embodiment of the inventive system comprises (i) a hand-held instrument with a resilient floating skin interface that carries microscopic diamond fragments for abrading the skin surface in a controlled manner, (ii) a fluid source for supplying sterile fluids to the skin interface for cleaning skin debris from the skin interface; and (iii) a negative pressure source for pulling fluid to the skin interface and thereafter aspirating fluid and skin debris from a treatment site. The skin interface is formed of a resilient floating member (e.g., silicone) that allows the working surface to flex and atraumatically engage the topography of the skin surface as it is translated across a treatment site. The system allows substantially deep surface layer removal without significant pain.

Abstract: A medical irradiation assembly (2) and method provides the target tissue (34) of a vessel (36) with a controlled dose of radiation in a simple, safe and effective manner. A catheter shaft (8) has a balloon (22) at its distal end (20) and a continuous loop, circumferentially-extending radiation source (32) configured to be expansible within the balloon and to be axially translated along and in contact with the inside surface (38) of the balloon by a pull wire (16). Proximal and distal radiation shields (18, 30) are used to house the radiation source, which may be a &bgr; source, before and after use. The continuous-loop radiation source stays in contact with the inside surface of the balloon so that the radiation source remains a constant distance, typically the thickness of the balloon, from the target tissue and irradiates the target tissue uniformly.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises an adjustment component movable in two degrees of freedom. When the adjustment component is adjusted within one of its degrees of freedom of movement, a characteristic, such as the compression damping, is adjusted and when the adjustment component is adjusted within the other of its degrees of freedom of movement another characteristic, such as the rebound damping, is adjusted. The invention extends to a method of adjusting the operation of a shock absorber.

Abstract: A remote endarterectomy ring stripper (1) includes an elongate shaft (8), having distal (36) and proximal (32) ends, an intima stripping ring (4, 34) mounted to the distal end of the elongate shaft and an intima cutter assembly having an intima cutting element (22, 42, 56, 60), at the stripping ring, operated by a user-operated cutting element actuator (10; 12, 50). Movement of the cutting element severs a length of intima (26), which has been separated from the wall (28) of the blood vessel (23), passing through the stripping ring.

Abstract: A gas spring shock absorber (10) includes a damping fluid cylinder (14) telescopically housed within a gas cylinder (12). A shaft (16) connects a sealed, outer end (18) of the gas cylinder (12) with a vented piston (32) movably mounted within damping fluid cylinder (14). Shaft (16) passes through a sealed inner end (28) of damping fluid cylinder (14) so that a sliding seal (34) located between gas cylinder (12) and damping fluid cylinder (14) creates a sealed variable-volume gas cylinder (40) between the cylinders.

Abstract: A PV roof assembly (6) includes a roof (12) mountable to an electric car (4), and a PV assembly (10) at the upper part of the roof. The PV assembly may be mounted to a separate roof surface (34) or the PV assembly may itself constitute all or part of the roof. The PV assembly may include a monolithic PV panel (14) with a plurality of PV cells (20). The roof may define a storage region (32) accessible through a closable access opening (44). The roof may include a circumferential lip (24) which extends around and above the PV assembly to help prevent damage to the PV panel. The roof may include a protective, at least semi-transparent top layer (60), an at least semi-transparent bottom layer (62) and a semi-transparent PV layer (64) secured between and in contact with the top and bottom layers to create a roof which is itself semi-transparent. The ratio of PV cells to the number of battery cells may be chosen to create a self-regulating design.

Abstract: A system and technique called magnetoresonant induction of an intrastromal implant that is adapted for corneal re-shaping. The technique is utilized to correct mild to high hyperopia and presbyopia by steepening the anterior corneal curvature in a single treatment, or in periodic treatments over the lifetime of the patient. The system comprises a combination of components including (i) at least one implantable magnetoresonant intrastromal segment, and (ii) an oscillating magnetic field generator together with a dosimetry control system including at least one emitter body adapted for positioning proximate to the patient's eye and intrastromal implant. The system can deliver thermal effects to appropriate stromal lamellae by non-contact inductive heating of the implant which in turn contracts or compresses stromal collagen fibrils into a circumferenitial cinch about an anterior layer of the cornea and steepens the anterior corneal curvature.

Abstract: A sail body (3), which can be finished along its edges and corners to create a finished sail (2), includes a number of sail sections(46) joined along their edges (47). Each sail section includes a reinforced material (20) laminated between first and second films (32,42). The reinforced material includes sectors of reinforced material (30,31), each sector having a set of generally parallel reinforcement elements (24), such as fibers. The sectors of reinforced material are preferably elongate sectors in which at least the majority of the sectors have lengths (34) at least five times as long their widths (36). The sectors are arranged in an overlapping pattern and so that the set of reinforcement elements are generally aligned with the expected load lines (28)for that section of the sail body. Sections can be made of different shapes but are typically triangular or quadrilateral. The reinforce material is typically a mesh or scrim containing sets of parallel, transversely oriented fibers (24,26).

Abstract: A system for atraumatic removal of skin surface layers in a treatment to induce neocollagenesis in the dermis to reduce wrinkles and alter the architecture of the dermal layers. A preferred embodiment of the inventive system comprises (i) a hand-held instrument with a resilient working skin interface that carries microscopic diamond fragments for abrading the skin surface in a controlled manner; (ii) a fluid source for supplying sterile fluids to the skin interface for cleaning skin debris from the skin interface; and (iii) a negative pressure source for pulling fluid to the skin interface and thereafter aspirating fluid and skin debris from a treatment site. The skin interface is formed of a resilient material such as silicone to allow the working end to flex and atraumatically engage the skin surface as it is translated across a treatment site. The system also carries a disposable cartridge filled with fluid in the hand-held instrument.

Abstract: A flexible solar power assembly includes a flexible photovoltaic device attached to a flexible thermal solar collector. The solar power assembly can be rolled up for transport and then unrolled for installation on a surface, such as the roof or side wall of a building or other structure, by use of adhesive and/or other types of fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to shock absorbers, including position-sensitive shock absorbers (2) in which the position-sensitive damping can be different during compression and rebound strokes, and shock absorbers (60) with damping adjusters (80, 118) which vary the damping provided during compression and rebound strokes. The position-sensitive shock absorber includes a cylinder (4) within which a piston (122) is movably mounted for movement between the first and second ends of the cylinder. Bypass openings (24-32) open into the cylinder interior (6) at axially spaced-apart positions. The bypass openings are coupled by a bypass channel (38). A flow valve (40, 42) may be positioned along the bypass channel permitting fluid flow from the first opening to the second opening and restricting fluid flow from the second opening to the first opening.

Abstract: A biopsy localization device made according to the invention includes a bioabsorbable element (34), such as a dehydrated collagen plug, delivered in a pre-delivery state to a soft tissue biopsy site (18) of a patient by an element delivery device (32). The bioabsorbable element preferably swells to fill the biopsied open region (26) and preferably is palpably harder than the surrounding soft tissue at the biopsy site. The bioabsorbable element permits the biopsy site to be relocated by palpation to eliminate the need to use metallic clips during biopsies and often eliminates the need for a return to the radiologist for pre-operative localization. In addition, the bioabsorbable element can be used as a therapeutic tool for treatment of the diseased lesion and for hemostasis.

Abstract: A low-stretch, flexible composite, made of one or several sections, particularly useful for making a sail (2), includes first and second polymer films (52, 62) with discontinuous, stretch-resistant segments (16) therebetween. The segments extend generally along the load lines (17) for the sail. The segments have lengths which are substantially shorter than corresponding lengths of the load lines within each section. The ends of the segments are laterally staggered relative to one another. Mats (20) of generally parallel mat elements can be used as the segments. The mat elements typically include discrete multifiber yarns (24, 26) and/or a fiber array (22), typically created by pneumatically laterally spreading apart the fibers of an untwisted multifiber yarn (32). A laminating assembly includes first and second flexible pressure sheets (66, 68), defining a sealable lamination interior (82) containing the material stack (64) to be laminated, housed within an enclosure (90).