Abstract: Methods and devices for verifying that proper visual stimulation is applied to the visual prostheses are described. In one of the methods, a visual stimulation system implanted on a subject is simulated externally. An external testing device is also discussed.

Abstract: A pad assembly, system and method of securing a patient onto an operating table when the patient is in the Trendelenburg position. The pad assembly and system is used to support and hold a patient on a medical procedure table during a medical procedure performed while the table, and thus the patient lying thereon, is in an inclined position, such as the Trendelenburg position. The pad assembly and system has characteristics which promote improved securing to eliminate shifting and/or sliding due to gravitational forces when the patient's body is in the Trendelenburg position, as well as promote a secure holding of the patient in a desired position on the table, in order to minimize injury to the patient. The pad assembly and system further has improved channels to allow for drainage of fluids that may otherwise be trapped between the patient's body and the OR Table during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A marker deployment tool may comprise a marker cannula having a lateral deployment aperture, a push rod slidably disposed within the marker cannula and a scalloped tip coupled to the distal end of the marker cannula. The scalloped tip may have a push rod recess configured to receive a portion of the distal end of the push rod such that the push rod does not appreciably extend out of the lateral deployment aperture when the push rod is actuated distally. The marker deployment tool may further comprise a magnet at or near the distal end. This magnet may be used in combination with a magnet or plurality of magnets disposed about an access chamber in a tissue sample holder to assist the user in aligning the marker deployment tool. The access chamber in the tissue sample holder may also include a valve, two valves, or a removable plug.

Abstract: A flexible circuit electrode array with more than one layer of metal traces comprising: a polymer base layer; more than one layer of metal traces, separated by polymer layers, deposited on the polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; and a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal traces. Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, or cortical stimulation many purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow.

Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, a cutter, and a valve assembly. The needle extends distally relative to the body. The needle defines a first lumen and a second lumen. The first and second lumens extend along a first and second longitudinal axis, respectively. The needle includes an opening fluidly coupling the first and second lumens. The cutter is translatable relative to the needle. The valve assembly comprises a vent opening and a spool body. The spool body is movable relative to the vent opening between a first and second position. The second lumen is coupled to the vent opening when the spool body is in the first position. The second lumen is sealed relative to the vent opening when the spool body is in the second position. The spool body is configured to transition between the first and second position by translation of the cutter.

Abstract: A biopsy assembly includes a biopsy device, a vacuum source, and a valve assembly. The biopsy device includes a body, a needle extending distally from the body, and a cutter translatable relative to the needle. The needle includes a lateral tissue receiving aperture. The cutter is translatable to selectively close the lateral tissue receiving aperture of the needle. The valve assembly is in fluid communication with the needle. The valve assembly includes a first valve, a second valve, and tubular member. Each of the first valve and the second valve selectively provide atmospheric venting or vacuum to the needle. The tubular member is coupled with the vacuum source and includes a first and second connector extending transversely from the tubular member. The first and second connectors couple to the first and second valves to provide vacuum to the first and second valves.

Abstract: A marker deployment tool may comprise a marker cannula having a lateral deployment aperture, a push rod slidably disposed within the marker cannula and a scalloped tip coupled to the distal end of the marker cannula. The scalloped tip may have a push rod recess configured to receive a portion of the distal end of the push rod such that the push rod does not appreciably extend out of the lateral deployment aperture when the push rod is actuated distally. The marker deployment tool may further comprise a magnet at or near the distal end. This magnet may be used in combination with a magnet or plurality of magnets disposed about an access chamber in a tissue sample holder to assist the user in aligning the marker deployment tool. The access chamber in the tissue sample holder may also include a valve, two valves, or a removable plug.

Abstract: A marker deployment tool may comprise a marker cannula having a lateral deployment aperture, a push rod slidably disposed within the marker cannula and a scalloped tip coupled to the distal end of the marker cannula. The scalloped tip may have a push rod recess configured to receive a portion of the distal end of the push rod such that the push rod does not appreciably extend out of the lateral deployment aperture when the push rod is actuated distally. The marker deployment tool may further comprise a magnet at or near the distal end. This magnet may be used in combination with a magnet or plurality of magnets disposed about an access chamber in a tissue sample holder to assist the user in aligning the marker deployment tool. The access chamber in the tissue sample holder may also include a valve, two valves, or a removable plug.

Abstract: An implantable device, including a first electrically non-conductive substrate; a plurality of electrically conductive vias through the first electrically non-conductive substrate; a flip-chip multiplexer circuit attached to the electrically non-conductive substrate using conductive bumps and electrically connected to at least a subset of the plurality of electrically conductive vias; a flip-chip driver circuit attached to the flip-chip multiplexer circuit using conductive bumps; a second electrically non-conductive substrate attached to the flip-chip driver circuit using conductive bumps; discrete passives attached to the second electrically non-conductive substrate; and a cover bonded to the first electrically non-conductive substrate, the cover, the first electrically non-conductive substrate and the electrically conductive vias forming a hermetic package.

Abstract: The present invention is a visual prosthesis which restores partial vision to patients blinded by outer retinal degeneration. While visual prosthesis users have achieved remarkable visual improvement to the point of reading letters and short sentences, the reading process is still fairly cumbersome. In the present invention the visual prosthesis is adapted to stimulate visual braille as a sensory substitution for reading written letters and words. The visual prosthesis system, used in the present invention, includes a 10×6 electrode array implanted epiretinally, a tiny video camera mounted on a pair of glasses, and a wearable computer that processes the video and determines the stimulation current of each electrode in real time.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a biocompatible hermetic housing including electrical feedthroughs, the method comprises providing a ceramic sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, forming at least one via hole in said ceramic sheet extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, inserting a conductive thick film paste into said via hole, laminating the ceramic sheet with paste filled via hole between an upper ceramic sheet and a lower ceramic sheet to form a laminated ceramic substrate, firing the laminated ceramic substrate to a temperature to sinter the laminated ceramic substrate and cause the paste filled via hole to form metalized via and cause the laminated ceramic substrate to form a hermetic seal around said metalized via, and removing the upper ceramic sheet and the lower ceramic sheet material from the fired laminated ceramic substrate to expose an upper and a lower surface of the metalized via.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible circuit electrode array adapted for neural stimulation, comprising: a polymer base layer; metal traces deposited on the polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal traces at least one tack opening. The present invention provides further a method of making a flexible circuit electrode array comprising depositing a polymer base layer; depositing metal on the polymer base layer; patterning the metal to form metal traces; depositing a polymer top layer on the polymer base layer and the metal traces; and preparing at least one tack opening.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a heart correction net is provided. The method includes: a first step of taking cross-sectional images of a heart in a layer direction, in which an apex and a base of the heart are connected; a second step of extracting outlines of the heart from the cross-sectional images; a third step of defining dividing points with respect to a three-dimensional shape reconstructed based on the outlines, the dividing points being defined on the outlines in a circumferential direction of the heart; a fourth step of dividing a contour of the heart in three-dimensions into divided regions based on the plurality of the dividing points, and creating development data, in which the each of the divided regions is developed on a two-dimensional plane, while an approximate shape of each of the divided regions is maintained; a fifth step of creating paper-pattern data based on the development data; and a sixth step of knitting the heart correction net with a knitting machine based on the paper-pattern data.

Abstract: A method of testing subjects' perception of complex shapes created by patterned multi-electrode direct stimulation of a retinal prosthesis is described. The complex shapes can be geometric shapes or characters such as letters of the alphabet and numbers.

Abstract: There is a molding assembly that comprises a jaw holding assembly having a base member that is joined to a workpiece locating member. The workpiece locating member is joined to a riser member, and a rail is mounted on the riser member and a carriage is supported on the rail. The molding assembly includes a jaw holder that is mounted on the carriage, and the jaw holder supports first and second forming dies, and each has an internal rib that abut one another when the first and second dies are brought together. Together the dies form an elliptical rib having an elliptical shaped curved surface. A workpiece having an O-ring recess and parting line protrusions is positioned between the first and second forming dies, and the dies are heated and melt the parting line protrusions. An O-ring is disposed in the O-ring recess to form a leak proof seal.

Abstract: Electrode arrays for biological implants are disclosed, particularly for stimulating a retina. The present disclosure provides array for improving apposition (reducing the space between the array and the retina. The present disclosure also provides electrode array designs that can be made approximately spherical to increase the field of view of a visual prosthesis while still maintaining good apposition.

Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.

Abstract: A flexible circuit electrode array with more than one layer of metal traces comprising: a polymer base layer; more than one layer of metal traces, separated by polymer layers, deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; and a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces. Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, or cortical stimulation many purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow.

Abstract: Cavity and sentinel lymph node marking devices, marker delivery devices, and methods are disclosed. More particularly, upon insertion into a body, the cavity marking device and method enable one to determine the center, orientation, and periphery of the cavity by radiographic, mammography, echogenic, or other noninvasive imaging techniques. A composition and method are disclosed for locating the sentinel lymph node in a mammalian body to determine if cancerous cells have spread thereto. The composition is preferably a fluid composition consisting of a carrier fluid and some type of contrast agent; alternatively, the contrast agent may itself be a fluid and therefore not need a separate carrier fluid. This composition is capable of (1) deposition in or around a lesion and migration to and accumulation in the associated sentinel node, and (2) remote detection via any number of noninvasive techniques.