Abstract: A biopsy device is provided which includes a localization needle having a guide wire preloaded into the biopsy device. The device includes a stylet having a blade for transecting and separating tissue. The device further includes a cannula for cutting a core of tissue and a garrote wire mechanism for cutting a transection of tissue transverse to the core cut by the cannula. The garrote wire is activated by a trigger mechanism which is locked out by a lockout feature within the device until the garrote wire has been advanced around the core of tissue cut by the cannula.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier for application of surgical clips to body tissue is disclosed. The clip applier includes an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends. This housing also defines a feed surface for the surgical clips. The clip applier also includes first and second jaws extending from the distal end of the housing. The jaws open and close to apply the surgical clips to the body tissue of the patient. A driver is disposed within the housing to advance the surgical clips from the feed surface to the jaws. The clip applier of the present invention incorporates a backing surface extending from the distal end of the housing and extending along the jaws. Accordingly, the backing surface bears against the jaws by constantly applying a force such that the housing is always pre-loaded against the jaws. As such, the jaws are maintained in proper alignment with the feed surface and the surgical clips can be advanced from the feed surface to the jaws without a misfeed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for monitoring cardiac output using bioelectrical impedance techniques in which three orthogonal pairs of sense electrodes are placed in the trachea or esophagus in the vicinity of the aorta, while an excitation current is injected into the intervening tissue mass via a current electrode, so that bioelectrical impedance measurements based on the voltage drop sensed by the sense electrodes reflect voltage changes induced primarily by blood flow dynamics. Methods are provided for computing cardiac output from bioelectrical impedance values using a multi-parameter algorithm derived using stepwise multiple linear regression or other optimization techniques. Apparatus and methods are also provided so that the measured cardiac output may be used to control administration of intravenous fluids or medication to an organism or to optimize a heart rate controlled by a pacemaker.

Abstract: A trocar seal system is provided which permits surgical instruments of at least two different diameters to use the same cannula of a trocar while maintaining a sealed body cavity. The seal system mounts to a cannula of the trocar. The seal system includes an upper seal and a lower seal with the upper seal having a larger opening than the lower seal. The lower seal is mounted on a pivotal hinge plate which permits the lower seal to be moved out of the way when a larger diameter surgical instrument is inserted through the upper seal. When a smaller diameter surgical instrument is inserted through the upper seal, the lower seal is not moved out of its path and the lower seal seals about the smaller diameter surgical instrument.

Abstract: A breast biopsy device is provided which includes a localization needle having a guide wire preloaded into the biopsy device. The device includes a stylet having a blade for transecting and separating healthy tissue on route to the biopsy site. The use of the stylet blade reduces the trauma to healthy breast tissue. The device further includes a cannula blade and a garrote for forming a cut transverse to the core cut by the cannula blade. A lockout feature prevents the garrote from deploying until after a cutting plane of the garrote has been advanced beyond the end of the guide wire.

Abstract: A trocar for use in surgical procedures including a cannula for maintaining a sealed working channel in a body wall and an obturator which creates the working channel through the body wall while protecting patients and medical personnel from harm is disclosed. A cannula converter which can be employed with the trocar to enable a surgeon to use surgical instruments having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cannula without deflating a body cavity is further disclosed. A site stabilizer which can be used with the trocar to prevent the cannula from being inadvertently withdrawn from the body cavity during a surgical procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for monitoring cardiac output using bioelectrical impedance techniques in which first and second electrodes are placed in the trachea and/or bronchus in the vicinity of the ascending aorta, while a sense current is injected into the thorax via first and second source electrodes, so that the resulting bioelectrical impedance measurements reflect voltage changes induced primarily by blood flow dynamics, rather than respiratory or noncardiac related physiological effects. Apparatus and methods are also provided so that the measured cardiac output may be used to control administration of intravenous fluids to a patient or to optimize heart rate for those patients having pacemakers.