Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument for coring, debulking, and removing a large, tough tissue mass such as a fibroid tumor through a trocar access sheath during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The instrument includes an outer sheath having a distal cutting end for coring the tissue mass and an inner elongated member having a distal, tissue affixation end such as a helical coil for inserting into and stabilizing the tissue mass during the surgical coring procedure. The cutting instrument further includes an instrument engagement assembly when in an engaged position for urging the outer sheath toward the distal end of the inner elongated member. As a result, tissue affixed to the distal end of the inner elongated member is cored as the outer sheath is urged toward the distal end of the inner member and engages the affixed tissue. The instrument engagement assembly includes sheath and member engagement subassemblies.

Abstract: A hard tip drainage catheter for direct and percutaneous insertion into the cavity of a patient with the aid of a stiffening cannula and a trocar introducer stylet positioned in the passage of the drainage catheter. The drainage catheter includes a flexible elongated member with a distal portion having a hard tip thermoplastic material at the distal end thereof for introducing the catheter into the cavity of a patient without the tapered distal end being pushed, peeled, or rolled back over the stiffening cannula. The longitudinal passage of the drainage catheter about the distal end is configured with a diameter less than the remainder of the passage to form a tight fit with the stylet extended through the passage. The passage also includes a taper extending between the two diameters of the passage of which the distal end of the stiffening cannula abuts to further minimize, if not eliminate, the distal end from being pushed, peeled, or rolled back over the stiffening cannula.

Abstract: A minimally invasive medical device (10, 23, 31, 40, 41, 46, 49) for providing a selected and controlled radiation dosage to the vascular system of a patient. The device includes an outer sheath (15) with an inner elongated member (55) slidably disposed in the passage (59) of the outer sheath. The inner elongated member has an expandable distal portion (11) of spring wires (12, 13) looped about a distal end 14 of the inner elongated member. The inner elongated member also includes a proximal portion (17) extending from the proximal end (58) of the outer sheath for extending and withdrawing the expandable distal portion from the distal end (56) of the outer sheath. The spring wires of the expandable distal portion include a radiation source (18) alloyed with or disposed around the spring wires. The inner elongated member also alternatively includes a catheter (60) with an inflatable balloon (38) forming the expandable distal portion thereof.

Abstract: A transluminal grafting system for grafting a prosthesis to the wall of a lumen includes a tubular graft provided with spring assemblies and anchoring barbs. The prothesis is mounted on an apertured tubular carrier and a central control means is inserted into the bore of the apertured carrier. Mooring loops are attached to the prothesis, pass through the apertures of the tubular carrier, and engage the central control means. An introducer sheath covers the system for smooth insertion into a lumen. When the graft has been positioned, the central control means maintains the axial position of the prosthesis. When the introducer sheath is pulled, the prostheis is exposed and the spring assemblies return to an expanded state and anchor the graft against the internal wall of the lumen.

Abstract: A vascular stent includes a continuous wire which is formed into a substantially tubular body having a plurality of oblong, open cells which are staggered around the circumference of the tube. When the body is formed in its unexpanded state, the long sides of each oblong cell are arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. Adjoining cells may then be bonded together at a point between adjacent parallel sides on a cell. When the body is expanded, the adjacent sides of each cell extend oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: A disposable sheath (10) for a medical scope (11) and having a flexible, elongated body portion (13) formed from a translucent plastic material (15) with a rough-textured interior surface (19) and a flexible, transparent tip portion (22). The rough-textured interior surface includes projections (18) that result from a plurality of indentations (17) formed in the exterior surface (16) of the body portion of the sheath. The translucent plastic material of the body portion is bonded to the transparent tip portion of the sheath by high frequency heat sealing, which is pathogen impermeable. The plastic materials of the sheath are also pathogen impermeable. In one embodiment, the tip portion (46) of the sheath (33) is formed from a flat, foldable sheet (48) of plastic material. The lateral edges (51, 52) of the foldable sheet are heat sealed to each other, and the proximal edges (49, 50) are heat sealed to the distal end (47) of the body portion (35) of the sheath.

Abstract: A percutaneous release mechanism (57) for use with an intravascular treatment device (11) in an intravascular treatment system (10). The release mechanism includes an inner member (17) having a connection mechanism (18) positioned about the distal end (14) thereof for interconnection with another connection mechanism (12) positioned on an intravascular treatment device. The release mechanism also includes an outer member tube (13) of which the inner member is positioned therein. The first and second connection mechanisms are interconnectable and positionable in the passage (16) of the tube for delivering the treatment device in a delivery state to the treatment site.

Abstract: The present invention involves the localization of lesion tissue within the breast. A surgical guidewire or needle includes a plurality of visual and radiopaque markers along its axial length so that the position of the lesion tissue may be determined in relation to the markers. In one form, the markers are portions extending from the guidewire or needle. In a second form, the markers are grooves formed in the guidewire or needle. The markers are disposed at predetermined distances of about one centimeter, and are differentiable so that the needle or guidewire serves as a metered marker perceptible in a mammogram or visually during surgery.

Abstract: A medical coupling device (8) as part of a medical system for withdrawing an ovum from a follicle. The coupling device has an inner chamber (3) that is formed from first (1) and second (2) parts, which are press-fitted together or slidably fitted together by means of male and female engagement parts (6). The inner chamber has a pair of axial openings (4) for receiving a first conduit (9) and a lateral opening (5) for receiving a second conduit (10) therein. In one embodiment, the first conduit includes a single lumen and a side port (11) of which the second conduit is in fluid communication with the single lumen of the first conduit in the inner chamber of the coupling device. In a second embodiment, the first conduit includes multiple lumens (12,13), of which only one of the lumens of the first conduit has a side port that is in fluid communication with the second conduit in the inner chamber of the coupling device.

Abstract: A suture driver for clamping a suture in the hollow passage and a recessed channel thereof and manipulating the suture to and from a surgical site. The driver includes an outer member tube having a closed and pointed distal end for percutaneous introduction into the body of a patient. The outer tube also includes a recessed channel positioned proximal the closed distal end of the hollow passage extending longitudinally therein and for receiving the suture therein. An inner rod is positioned in the passage of the outer tube and has a clamping surface at the distal end thereof for engaging a suture positioned in the recessed channel. The inner rod is slid through the recessed channel to clamp the suture in the hollow passage of the outer tube against another clamping surface at the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: A simple, rapid and effective device for cleaning the objective lens of a laparoscope, endoscope, coeloscope or similar telescope, without the removal of said telescope from the body cavity, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device consists of a tube, the inner diameter of which is such that it accepts the shaft of such telescope. On the inner circumference, near to or at one end of the tube, is a ridge that can direct a flow of fluid within the tube onto the objective lens at the end of a telescope shaft inserted within the tube. At the other end of the tube there is a means of making a seal, such as a flexible O-ring, that prevents or reduces the leakage of air and/or fluid between the tube and the inserted shaft of the telescope. There is an aperture in the tube which gives access to the inside of the tube. Prior to use, the shaft of the telescope is inserted into the invention so that the end of the telescope, containing the objective lens, touches or almost touches the ridge.

Abstract: A drainage catheter with a distal member end that is lockable in a desired loop configuration for retaining the catheter in a body cavity such as the bladder. The lockable drainage catheter includes a flexible tension member for drawing the distal member end into a loop. The tension member extends through a lockable connector positioned about the proximal member end. The lockable connector includes a resilient material sleeve with a sleeve passage extending longitudinally therethrough for positioning the tension member therein. The sleeve is positioned in a passage of the connector adjacent a channel wherein a pivotedly attached lever is positioned. When the lever is pivoted toward the connector into a fixed position, a cam surface of the lever compresses the sleeve and locks thereabout to maintain the loop formed in the distal member end.

Abstract: In connection with herniotomia or laparoscopy a device (12) for supporting the abdominal wall may be passed into the abdominal cavity through a percutaneously arranged guard tube (23) that is preferably inserted in the abdominal cavity through the hernial canal. The supporting device (12) includes a barrier material (13) which may for instance be a synthetic net. The supporting device has a stiffener (14) allowing such a controlled deformation of the barrier material that the supporting device may pass through the guard tube (23), following which the stiffener is capable of unfolding the barrier material into a substantially plane condition. After insertion and unfolding the supporting device (12) may be tightened against the peritoneum (26) by means of a thread (19) that may be fastened on the surface of the patient's skin.

Abstract: A transluminal arrangement for positioning a prosthesis assembly at an aneurysm in the bifurcated lumen of the aorta and the common iliac arteries extending therefrom. The prosthesis assembly includes a bifurcated endovascular graft having a main body and ipsilateral and contralateral limbs extending therefrom. The assembly also includes main, ipsilateral, and contralateral spring assemblies each having a compressed state. When released from its compressed state, each spring expands a portion of the graft to substantially conform that portion of the graft to the wall of the bifurcated lumen. The transluminal arrangement comprises an elongated member extending through the main and ipsilateral bores of the graft and includes attachment sutures and an inner catheter extending therethrough for temporarily attaching the main and ipsilateral spring assemblies to the elongated member.

Abstract: A flexible, kink-resistant, introducer sheath for percutaneous vascular access. The introducer sheath includes a flat wire coil with uniform spacing between the turns, which is compression fitted about an inner, lubricous material polytetrafluoroethylene tube. The introducer sheath further includes an outer tube of a heat formable polyamide material which is heat formed and compressed through the spaces between the turns of the wire coil to mechanically connect to the roughened outer surface of the inner tube. The distal end of the outer tube is tapered in a mold with additional polyamide outer tube material. The proximal end of the sheath is flared for connection to a connector fitting. In another aspect of the introducer sheath, the flat wire coil has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner tube. The coil is then expanded and wrapped around the inner tube to form a compression fit.

Abstract: An intravascular medical device having a structure shaped and sized for introduction into the vascular system of a patient including a base material and a coating of a thrombolytic agent on the base material. The thrombolytic agent advantageously dissolves or breaks up the formation of thrombus on the surface of the structure when placed in the vascular system of a patient. The intravascular medical device also includes a antithrombogenic agent for inhibiting the formation of thrombus on the surface of the medical device. The method of treating a medical device with a thrombolytic agent includes providing a base material for the medical device along with a thrombolytic agent. The base material is dipped into the thrombolytic agent and then removed to allow the thrombolytic agent to dry on the surface thereof. The dipping and drying steps are repeated to increase the concentration or quantity of the thrombolytic agent on the device.

Abstract: A needle driver (100) for fixedly positioning a curved suture needle (101) in a channel (114) of an inner rod (109) thereof and in a preferred 90 degree orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the inner rod. The needle driver includes an outer tube (102) with a beveled edge (110) positioned transversely at the distal end thereof. The beveled edge includes a substantially straight segment (119) inclined at a preferred angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer tube. The channel of the inner rod includes an undercut surface (116) and an intermediate surface (117) extending longitudinally therefrom. The undercut surface is formed at a preferred angle with respect the longitudinal axis of the inner rod, whereas the intermediate surface is substantially parallel to the axis.

Abstract: A vascular stent for reducing hemodynamic disturbances caused by angioplasty. The stent is formed from a single filament of low memory biocompatible material having a series of U-shaped bends. The filament is wrapped around a mandril, in a circular fashion, in order to align the curved portions of each bend which may then be connected. The stent provides a maximum amount of structural support for the lumen while minimizing hemodynamic disturbances inside the lumen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for laparoscopic hernia repair including the use of an introducer sheath housed around an inner tubular plunger. The plunger houses an elongated ribbon formed into a loop, the loop being formed by a bipartite distal end of the ribbon. A patch with a passageway is attached to the loop with each of the two ends of the bipartite distal end of the ribbon being introducible into one end of the passageway for opening the patch into a planar configuration once it is pushed out of the sheath by the plunger.