Abstract: An improved method of performing surgery on a joint in a patient's body, such as a knee, includes making an incision in a knee portion of one leg while a lower portion of the one leg is extending downward from an upper portion of the one leg and while a foot connected with the lower portion of the one leg is below a support surface on which the patient is disposed. The incision is relatively short, for example, between seven and thirteen centimeters. A patella may be offset from its normal position with an inner side of the patella facing inward during cutting of a bone with a cutting tool. During cutting of the bone, one or more guide members having opposite ends which are spaced apart by a distance less than the width of an implant may be utilized to guide movement of a cutting tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in medical imaging simulate within an imaging coil normal movements of body parts such as joints, and improve imaging of soft tissue and bony parts as compared to a static system in which images are taken of a joint in only one position. A joint or body parts is moved into various positions in multiple planes within its range of motion while a series of images are taken of the joint in the different positions. The images are collated into a cine format to effectively show the joint in motion. A surface or volume coil may be coupled for movement with the joint or body part and maintained in the proper spatial relationship with the primary coil's electromagnetic field. The systems may be provided as mechanisms usable with existing imaging tables to reduce cost, or may be built into a new imaging table. It is possible to use a larger primary coil, allowing increased range of movement. Traction may be applied to a joint being imaged, in order to load the joint.

Abstract: The present invention preferably includes a balloon catheter for use with a guidewire. The catheter has a body with a balloon located thereon, preferably at the distal end. A lumen within the catheter body communicates with the interior of the balloon which can be inflated by known methods with saline solution. A series of sleeve members of predetermined lengths and sizes are coupled to and positioned along the length of the catheter body. One or more of the sleeve members can span the length of the balloon. Each sleeve member has a passageway and both an exit and entry port so that the guidewire can pass therethrough. Instead of a balloon, the catheter can include a device member that forms a chamber which can store medicine until discharged at the desired site within the blood vessel. Apertures or pores on the catheter body allow for the perfusion of blood or the delivery of medicine to the site of the blood vessel. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drive system for a domestic appliance provides inner and outer coaxial drive outlets operative at different speeds and comprises an active limb, which incorporates an electric drive motor and a shaft driven by said motor and coupled to the inner drive outlet to drive it at a selected speed. The system also includes a passive limb which incorporates a rotary component; the two limbs being mounted in fixed relationship to one another. A first speed reduction mechanism couples the shaft to the rotary component of the passive limb and a second speed reduction mechanism couples the said rotary component to the outer drive outlet. Conveniently, the rotary component comprises a further shaft, disposed substantially parallel to the driven shaft of said motor, and both limbs of the system are rigidly mounted to, and supported by, a common framework of support members. Both speed reduction mechanisms are typically belt driven, and may provide identical reductions.

Abstract: A cartridge plunger with at least one gas evacuation opening and at least one gas evacuation element covering the cartridge plunger opening. For a simple and dependable gas evacuation and to prevent any undesirable leakage of the filler material, the gas evacuation element is at least one cover disk that forms a labyrinth path running transverse to the plunger axis. The path is located between the contact surface of the cover disk facing the gas evacuation opening and a corresponding contact surface on the cartridge plunger.

Abstract: Materials, devices and methods for the treatment of congestive heart failure are disclosed. In these methods, the volume of the left ventricle is reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart. Volume reduction is accomplished by introduction of biocompatible materials into the wall of the left ventricle, or into the ventricle itself. Suitable biocompatible materials include those that undergo a phase transition within the ventricle or within the wall of the ventricle, and are thereby converted from a substantially liquid state to a substantially solid state. Such materials also include those which increase in volume during the transition from the liquid state to the solid state. Also disclosed is a method for ventricular geometry reduction wherein flexible, elastic bands are attached to the external surface of the heart to effect a decrease in the volume of the left ventricle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in medical imaging simulate within an imaging coil normal movements of body parts such as joints, and improve imaging of soft tissue and bony parts as compared to a static system in which images are taken of a joint in only one position. A joint or body parts is moved into various positions in multiple planes within its range of motion while a series of images are taken of the joint in the different positions. The images are collated into a cine format to effectively show the joint in motion. A surface or volume coil may be coupled for movement with the joint or body part and maintained in the proper spatial relationship with the primary coil's electromagnetic field. The systems may be provided as mechanisms usable with existing imaging tables to reduce cost, or may be built into a new imaging table. It is possible to use a larger primary coil, allowing increased range of movement. Traction may be applied to a joint being imaged, in order to load the joint.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter is disclosed having an inflation balloon and a catheter shaft with an inflation channel. A first guidewire channel is disposed along the dilatation catheter and has a distal exit at the distal end of the catheter shaft. A second guidewire channel is disposed along the dilatation catheter and has a distal exit attached along the inflation balloon. Guidewires are slideably disposed within the first and second guidewire channels. An oblique ended expandable stent is disposed about the inflation balloon and used to treat bifurcated and sidebranched arteries and ostial lesions.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquid crystal polymer layer includes: coating a substrate with a release layer; coating the release layer with an alignment layer capable of aligning a liquid crystal polymer layer; coating the alignment layer with a layer of a liquid crystal polymer material, thereby forming a liquid crystal polymer layer in which the molecules have a predetermined orientation; solidifying the layer of liquid crystal polymer; and dissolving the release layer in a liquid which does not harm the solidified liquid crystal polymer layer to form a self supporting film. The release layer and alignment layer can be combined into a single layer, such as for example a layer of polyvinyl alcohol which may be dissolved in water. Thicker or multi-layer films can be fabricated by using the first solidified layer as an alignment layer for a subsequently deposited liquid crystal polymer layer.

Abstract: A process for purification of molten salt electrolytes containing magnesium chloride in which oxygen-containing impurities such as magnesium hydroxychloride are destroyed both electrolytically and chemically. The process comprises passing a direct current through a magnesium chloride-containing molten salt electrolyte, thereby electrolyzing a portion of the oxygen-containing impurities at the anode. In addition, the voltage and current of the direct current are sufficiently high to cause electrolysis of a small proportion of the magnesium chloride present in the electrolyte to thereby produce finely dispersed droplets of elemental magnesium in the electrolyte. The droplets of elemental magnesium react chemically with oxygen-containing impurities present in the electrolyte. The purified electrolyte is transferred to an electrolytic cell for the production of magnesium metal and chlorine gas.

Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for marking glass with a laser, the glass is first brought to a temperature above the transformation temperature of the glass. The glass is then acted upon by a laser pulse which produces a mark on the surface of the glass. The peak power of the laser pulse is preferably selected so that it is merely a thermal interaction with the glass surface which occurs. This has the advantage that the material properties of the marked glass remain unchanged compared with the unmarked product.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for use with a guidewire is disclosed. The catheter has a body with a balloon located thereon, preferably at the distal end. A lumen within the catheter body communicates with the interior of the balloon which can be inflated by known methods with saline solution. A series of sleeve members of predetermined lengths and sizes are coupled to and positioned along the length of the catheter body. One or more of the sleeve members can span the length of the balloon. Each sleeve member has a passageway and both an exit and entry port so that the guidewire can pass therethrough. Instead of a balloon, the catheter can include a device member that forms a chamber which can store medicine until discharged at the desired site within the blood vessel. Apertures or pores on the catheter body allow for the perfusion of blood or the delivery of medicine to the site of the blood vessel. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method to simulate within an imaging coil normal movements of body parts such as joints, and improve imaging of soft tissue and bony parts as compared to a static system in which images are taken of a joint in only one position. A joint or body parts is moved into various positions in multiple planes within its range of motion while a series of images are taken of the joint in the different positions. The images are collated into a cine format to effectively show the joint in motion. A surface or volume coil may be coupled for movement with the joint or body part and maintained in the proper spatial relationship with the primary coil's electromagnetic field.

Abstract: A stent is made from multiple wire strands coated with a biocompatible fluoropolymer. A knitting or braiding machine receives a plurality of the coated wire strands from spools and interlaces them into a tubular stent. The coated wire strand is made of materials such as stainless steel, tungsten, titanium, nickel titanium alloy (NITINOL®) gold or silver. The wire can be heat set prior to coating with the fluoropolymer. The resulting stent is tubular in shape and has a uniform porosity around each interlaced coated wire component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of repairing tissue. In one embodiment, one portion of an implant, which is at least partially formed of a biodegradable material, is connected to another portion of the implant by applying heat to the implant. The implant is positioned relative to a patient's body tissue. In another embodiment, graft tissue is enclosed with a biodegradable enclosure having a number of openings. The graft tissue is positioned in the patient's body at a location that enables body tissue to grow through the openings in the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a faucet stand for positioning a faucet in operative relationship to a free-standing bowl mounted on a table or counter top. The faucet stand includes a base with a curved front surface for receiving the bowl, first and second sides extending from the base, and at least one through hole extending through the base for receiving the faucet. The faucet stand allows the use of conventional faucets with free-standing bowls thereby eliminating the need for either specially sized faucets or faucets extending from the wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating for an intravascular implant that prevents hyperproliferative vascular disease after a mechanical injury, such as angioplasty. The coating includes first and second agents, with the first agent acting on a calcium independent cellular pathway and the second agent acting on a calcium dependent cellular pathway. In an exemplary embodiment, the first agent is rapamycin and the second agent is cyclosporine A. The agents can be incorporated in a polymeric agent and can be applied either directly to the implant or on top of a primer layer placed on the implant. A top coat can be applied to the therapeutic coating, if desired.

Abstract: An anchor connected with a suture is moved through a passage between opposite sides of a bone. The anchor is then pivoted to change its orientation. A second anchor is connected with the suture. While tension is maintained in the suture, the suture is secured against movement relative to the anchors. This may be done by tying the suture or by using a suture retainer to hold the suture. A suture retainer may be used in place of the second anchor. The passage may extend across a fracture in the bone. The passage may have either a nonlinear or linear configuration. A tubular member may be positioned in the passage with the tubular member extending into portions of the passage on opposite sides of the fracture. Opposite end portions of the tubular member may be disposed in a compact outer layer of the bone. If desired, a member other than a suture may be used as a force transmitting member between the two anchors. The tubular member may be formed of bone.