Abstract: A magnetic retrieval catheter for retrieving a magnetically attractable object such as a disk-shaped battery from the stomach of a patient. The catheter includes an elongated member tube with a neodymium-based rare-earth magnet positioned in the passageway of the tube about the distal end thereof. The elongated member tube comprises a pliable, flexible material such as polyvinylchloride. A compatible polyvinylchloride dispersion coating material surrounds the distal end of the tube and the distal portion of the magnet extending from the passageway of the tube for securing the magnet in the passageway of the tube and for minimizing oxidation of the rare-earth magnet. A handle is attached about the proximal end of the tube for the manipulation of the tube by the physician. A guide is also provided for insertion through the handle and in the tube passageway about the distal end for controlling and advancing the tube.

Abstract: A joint and a laminate including a nickel-titanium alloy such as Nitinol and a method for preparing the surface of a nickel-titanium alloy member for bonding solder material and, electively, another similar or dissimilar member thereto. The method includes applying a halogen containing flux to the titanium oxide coated surface of a nickel-titanium alloy member and heating the flux to its activation temperature. The flux removes and suspends the titanium oxide therein and deposits a metal from the halogen containing flux on the oxidation free surface. The activated flux also coats the member surface for protection from further oxidation. A bonding material such as a tin-silver solder is flowed onto the tinned surface to displace the activated flux. Electively, another member is applied to the molten solder to form a joint between the two members. The residual flux is cleaned from the joint to prevent further deterioration of the base metal.

Abstract: A minimally invasive intravascular medical device for providing a radiation treatment in a body passageway such as a coronary vessel of the vascular system. The device includes a flexible elongated member having distal and proximal portions. The distal portion is percutaneously insertable into a vessel and includes a distal end that is directable through the vessel to the treatment site. A radiation source is attached about the distal portion for delivering a radiation treatment to the walls a vessel having a stent positioned thereagainst. The distal portion of the elongated member includes a wire coil positioned about the tapered distal end of a mandril wire. The combination of the wire coil and the tapered distal end of the mandril wire provides variable flexibility to the distal portion of the device. The distal portion also has a predetermined curvature for directing the distal end of the device through the vessel.

Abstract: A helical surgical snare (10) for engaging and capturing a foreign body for example in the vascular system of a human or animal body. The helical surgical snare includes an elongated tubular member (11) with the distal portion (34) of a filament wire (17) wrapped around the exterior surface (15) of the distal portion of the tube. The filament wire is positioned within the passage (14) of the tubular member and exits about the distal portion (25) thereof via inclined side ports. The distal end (18) of the filament wire is attached in the passage to the distal end (13) of the tubular member. A helical snare loop (19) is formed externally around the tubular member between the two side ports (16, 20). A handle (30) positioned at the proximal end of the tubular member pushes and pulls the distal portion of the filament wire to operate the snare loop between various open and collapsed positions.

Abstract: A rotational surgical instrument including a working head connected to a rotatable, pencil-like handle. The handle includes a casing with distal and proximal end caps, an elongated outer member extending into the casing, and a actuation link extending from the distal end cap through the casing and elongated member to the working head. An actuating mechanism is positioned distally from the distal end cap about the proximal portion of the elongated member for slidably actuating the working head between and open and closed positions. A compression spring is included in the passageway of the casing around the actuation link between the proximal end cap and the proximal end of the elongated member to return the working head to the nonactuated position. Keyed surfaces are included within the passageway of the casing and attached to the distal end of the casing and the proximal end of the elongated member for preventing rotation of the elongated member with respect to the casing and actuation link.

Abstract: A vascular occlusion assembly for therapeutically occluding a vascular site in a patient. The assembly comprises a foldable material occlusion bag having an expanded diamond shape and an elongated flexible filler member which is inserted in the internal cavity of the occlusion bag. When positioned in the internal cavity of the bag, the filler member assumes a convoluted configuration expanding the bag to the expanded shape. The occlusion bag is positioned on the flared distal end of a positioning catheter. A collar is wrapped around the neck of the bag to securely position the bag and prevent premature detachment from the positioning catheter. A pusher catheter is coaxially positioned around the positioning catheter to release the expanded occlusion bag from the flared distal end of the positioning catheter. A handle is releasably attached to the proximal end of the flexible filler member and inserted into the positioning catheter for expanding the occlusion bag to the diamond shape.

Abstract: Thrombi are fragmented by a rotating action body secured on a torsion-resistant flexible shaft. The shaft is journalled in two parts of an internal catheter between which the action body is located. A grid surrounding the action body is formed by curved biassed resilient legs which connect the two parts of the internal catheter together.

Abstract: Multi-lumen wire guide introducer and method of inserting a wire guide or the like into the introducer prior to positioning the introducer in a vessel of the vascular system of a patient. The multi-lumen wire guide introducer comprises a tubular member formed of a semi-rigid plastic material such as a radiopaque polytetrafluoroethylene with first and second adjacent lumens extending longitudinally therein. In one aspect, the tubular member includes a tapered outer surface extending proximally from the distal end of the member and centered about the first lumen. The second lumen includes an opening in the tapered outer surface of the tubular member for extending a wire guide therefrom and into the blood vessel. In another aspect, the tubular member has proximal and distal portions with a first lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The proximal portion includes a second lumen extending longitudinally therein and communicating with the first lumen prior to the distal portion.

Abstract: A lockable wire guide control handle for grasping and manipulating a wire guide. The control handle includes an elongated member and a thumb slide positioned in a retention channel formed in the distal portion of the elongated member. The proximal portion of the elongated member is cylindrical having an enclosed passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, which is offset for passage of the wire guide therethrough. The distal portion of the elongated member includes a dovetail-shaped retention channel, the bottom surface including an inclined slot for positioning the wire guide therein. The thumb slide includes a mating dovetail-shaped tenon positioned in the retention channel. Extending from the flat surface of the dovetail-shaped tenon is an inclined projection for fixedly positioning the wire guide in the inclined slot. The inclined slot and projection have a variable, uniform spacing therebetween for fixedly positioning various diameter wire guides therein.

Abstract: An introduction catheter set for a collapsible, self-expandable implant of the type comprising a number of spring-biased anchoring legs, e.g. a filter for entrapping thrombi or emboli into a blood vessel of a patient comprises a flexible external guide sheath and a flexible internal catheter slidably displaceable inside the guide sheath and having at its distal end a tubular end member, in which a retaining member is slidably arranged for releasably retaining the anchoring legs of the implant in defined angular positions in respect of each other. The retaining member is connected with a flexible displacement member extending throughout the internal catheter with the proximal ends of the displacement member and the internal catheter connected with a first and a second operating member, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the repair of sliding hiatal hernias through laparoscopic techniques comprising a tubular sleeve; a conically shaped guide with an essentially pointed forward end positionable within the sleeve; a prosthesis coupled to the guide; and means for securing the prosthesis around the esophagus of a patient immediately beneath the patient's diaphragm whereby the prosthesis assumes a generally torus shape. The prosthesis may be pre-inflated and wherein the sleeve is axially splitable after the initiation of insertion of the guide. The prosthesis may be inflatable and further including a hose to inflate the prosthesis after positioning.

Abstract: A vascular stent includes at least one filament formed into a wave-like pattern, the filament being wound into a substantially spiral shape; and a device for connecting at least one end of the filament to slide on a another portion of the filament so as to form a hoop at each end of the spiral shape.

Abstract: A percutaneously insertable, needle-sized retractor and system for grasping and retracting tissue in a cavity of a patient. The system comprises a needle-sized trocar sheath having an outside diameter in a range from 10 to 22 gauge, a pointed distal end stylet insertable into the trocar sheath, and a tissue-grasping retractor also insertable through the trocar sheath. The stylet is inserted through the trocar sheath with the pointed distal end extending therefrom. The trocar sheath and stylet are then inserted through a patient's skin and subtending tissue and organs into a desired cavity. When the trocar sheath is inserted, the stylet is removed and the tissue grasping retractor inserted through the sheath and into the cavity. A retaining cap at the proximal end of the sheath fixedly positions the retractor with respect to the trocar sheath while a retention flange positioned around the outside surface of the sheath fixedly positions the sheath with respect to the patient.

Abstract: A closed-end catheter having a flat-surfaced valve positioned in a recess about the distal portion of the catheter for preventing retrograde flow of blood therethrough when positioned in a blood vessel of a patient. The valve catheter comprises a flexible material, cylindrical tube having a semi-circular cross-sectional wall extending longitudinally about the distal portion thereof. The laterally facing valve is formed in a planar surface of a flexible material layer attached to the wall in the distal portion of the cylindrical tube. One or more passages extend through the cylindrical tube in which medicaments or fluids can be simultaneously injected or aspirated. The valve is formed by inserting one or more flat-surfaced rods in the passages of the tube to stretch the surrounding wall. A flat-surfaced layer of flexible material is applied over the flat-surfaced rod to the stretched wall.

Abstract: A catheter, system, and method for selectively ablating prostatic tissue about the prostatic urethra. The catheter includes an elongated member having distal, proximal, and intermediate portions, the intermediate portion being shaped and sized for intimate contact with the prostatic urethra. The distal and proximal portions of the catheter include fixation and cooling balloons having an annular recess therein for positioning the internal and external sphincters therein and for maintaining the longitudinal position of the catheter in the prostatic urethra. A thermally conducted, heat-emitting element is positioned in the intermediate portion for producing a thermally conductive heat distribution to ablate the prostatic tissue. The catheter also includes irrigation and aspiration passageways therein for communicating with the interior of the distal and proximal cooling balloons.

Abstract: A flexible plastic material catheter having a distal tubular member portion with a greater than 75 weight percent loading of a radiopaque agent for radiographic viewing. The catheter comprises an elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal end portion with a flexible, radiopaque plastic material having a durometer lower than that of the proximal portion. The plastic material of the distal end portion comprises a homogeneous and evenly dispersed composition of a 20 weight percent base thermoplastic, elastomer material such as a polyether block amide and 80 weight percent loading of a radiopaque agent such as tungsten. This distal end portion plastic material exhibits a durometer of approximately 47 on the Shore D scale, whereas the polyether block amide material exhibits a durometer of approximately 40 on the Shore D scale. The flex modulus of the polyether block amide material is in a range of 23,000 to 75,000 pounds per square inch.

Abstract: A surgical trocar access sheath having a laterally expandable retention mechanism for percutaneous insertion through a body cavity wall. The expandable retention mechanism is positioned about the distal end of the sheath for retaining the access sheath within the body cavity. The access sheath has an inner elongated member cannula and an outer elongated member tube having a slick surface for ready insertion through a puncture site. The laterally expandable retention mechanism includes a plurality of strips extending and formed longitudinally in the outer tube. The retention mechanism has an expanded state and a retracted state. In the expanded state, the longitudinal strips extend radially from the outer elongated member tube to engage the interior surface of the body cavity wall. The expandable retention mechanism is actuated by sliding an actuating mechanism hub attached to the distal end of the outer elongated member tube against another hub fixedly attached to the inner elongated member cannula.

Abstract: A rotational pressure drive for filling a medical syringe with a fluid and obtaining, maintaining, and releasing a desired fluid pressure within the syringe. The commercially available medical syringe includes a barrel with a plunger extending therein. Extending laterally and radially about the proximal end of the syringe barrel are several flanges. The rotational pressure drive comprises a hollow cylindrical chamber with a partially closed, proximal end with an opening therethrough. The drive further includes an axial extension member extending through the opening in the partially closed end for engaging and urging the proximal end of the syringe plunger toward the partially closed, proximal end. The drive, in another aspect, includes a syringe plunger having a distal and a proximal portion. The distal portion is inserted into the syringe barrel with the proximal portion extending through the opening of the partially closed, proximal portion of the drive.

Abstract: Echogenic medical devices and methods of fabrication and of use are disclosed. The devices are adapted to be inserted into a patient. The device includes an elongated member including a material having an acoustic impedance different from that of the surrounding medium. The medium includes surrounding biological tissue or fluids surrounding the member when inserted into a passageway of the patient. The acoustic impedance of the elongated member is sufficiently different from the surrounding medium for enhancing an image produced in response to a sonic beam produced from imaging equipment. The elongated member also includes an interface layer of a high density metal of which the deposition on the base material of the member is ion beam assisted. The interface layer includes an outside surface having a plurality of particulate-type, discontinuous curved surfaces of partially spherical indentations formed therein or spheres extending therefrom.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument is disclosed for percutaneously debulking tissue through an access sheath commonly used in minimally invasive laparoscopic or endoscopic surgical procedures. The cutting instrument includes a inner rotary member tube having a cutting edge at the distal end thereof for cutting and slicing tissue. The distal end of the cutting member tube extends from the distal end of a stationary sheath which prevents tissue from wrapping around the inner cutting member tube. The inner cutting member tube includes a hollow passageway for suctioning and aspirating tissue and fluid through the tube and into a collection chamber or out through a vacuum or suction line attached thereto. The instrument further includes an outer safety shield having a rounded distal end for preventing the puncture of a surgical tissue bag or from unintentionally cutting tissue by the attending physician.