Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial sphincter for controllably occluding a urine-carrying vessel of an incontinent patient, including a first electrically driven pump for pumping the hydraulic fluid against the force produced by the inherent elasticity of the reservoir from the hydraulic occlusion device to the elastic reservoir during normal operation, and a second emergency pump for pumping the hydraulic fluid against the force produced by the inherent elasticity of the reservoir from the occlusion device to the elastic reservoir during emergency operation, namely when said first pump does not function properly. The invention further relates to a method for controlling an artificial sphincter.

Abstract: A neutron moderation material for use in a BNCT beam shaping assembly. The neutron moderation material comprises three elements, i.e., Mg, Al, and F, wherein the mass fraction of the Mg element is 3.5%-37.1%, the mass fraction of the Al element is 5%-90.4%, and the mass fraction of the F element is 5.8%-67.2%; the sum of the weights of the Mg, Al, and F elements is 100% of the total weight of the neutron moderation material. The neutron moderation material may be doped with a small amount of 6Li-containing substances, and the addition of the 6Li-containing substances effectively decreases the content of ?-rays in epithermal neutron beams.

Abstract: A ligation device comprises a clamp and a conveying unit. The clamp comprises a clip and a tightening tube to tighten a rear end of the clip therein, the clip comprises two clamping arms. The conveying unit comprises a traction line, a conveying tube and a control handle, the traction line runs through the conveying tube, the control handle is connected with a rear end of the conveying tube and a rear end of the traction line. At least one bearing piece is arranged at a tail of the clip and can be deformed or broken under a certain pressure, the bearing piece is assembled to form a hole, the traction line runs through the hole and a front end of the traction line is blocked by the bearing piece.

Abstract: A catheter tracking system can be used to track motion and/or position of a catheter during delivery into a patient. A catheter tracking system can include an encoder and a guide roller to guide delivery of a catheter. The encoder can be configured to track motion or position the guide roller. The encoder may be a rotary optical encoder or a magnetic position sensor. A processing unit can also be used to determine motion or position of the catheter. The catheter tracking device may also include a wireless transmitter for communicating the catheter motion or position to an external device.

Abstract: A lightweight 3D stereoscopic surgical microscope has a body, a robot set, an image set, and an operating set. The body has a wheel seat, a housing mounted on the wheel seat, and a host computer mounted in the housing. The robot set is connected to the body and has a base mounted on the housing, a transversal lever mounted on the base, a lifting arm connected to the transversal lever, and a rotating arm connected to the lifting arm. The image set is connected to the robot set and has an outer casing connected to the rotating arm, at least one objective lens mounted in the outer casing, a main display screen mounted on the outer casing, an auxiliary display screen mounted beside the body. The operating set is connected to the robot set, is connected to the body and the image set and has two operating bars.

Abstract: An implant capsule (10) and an implant delivery system are disclosed. The implant capsule (10) includes, sequentially from a proximal end to a distal end, a flexural section (102, 102a-102e), a reinforcement section (101, 101a-101e) and a radiopaque reinforcement ring (104a-104e). The reinforcement section (101, 101a-101e) has higher strength than the flexural section (102, 102a-102e). The implant delivery system includes the implant capsule (10). The implant capsule (10) can ensure the implant to be deployed in a coaxial condition and prevent over-expansion due to large expansion forces exerted by a stent of the implant.

Abstract: A beam shaping assembly for neutron capture therapy includes a beam inlet, a target having nuclear reaction with an incident proton beam from the beam inlet to produce neutrons forming a neutron beam defining a main axis, a moderator adjoining to the target, a reflector surrounding the moderator, a thermal neutron absorber adjoining to the moderator, a radiation shield arranged inside the beam shaping assembly and a beam outlet. The neutrons are moderated to epithermal neutron energies. The reflector leads the neutrons deviated from the main axis back, and a gap channel is arranged between the moderator and the reflector. The thermal neutron absorber is used for absorbing thermal neutrons so as to avoid overdosing in superficial normal tissue during therapy. The radiation shield is used for shielding leaking neutrons and photons so as to reduce dose of the normal tissue not exposed to irradiation.

Abstract: A light-sensitive chimeric protein includes domains from at least two members of the G-protein-coupled-receptor (GPCR) protein super family, which are fused to yield a light-sensitive GPCR chimera capable of coupling a light signal to the signaling cascade of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 (mGluR6) is provided for medical therapy and pharmaceuticals for treating loss of vision, in particular resulting from retinal photoreceptor degeneration. A first GPCR family member contributes domains which mediate the light-sensitivity to the chimeric light-sensitive GPCR protein and belongs to the family of light-sensitive GPCR proteins also called photopigments. In some cases, the GPCR protein is melanopsin, in particular human melanopsin. A second of the at least two GPCR family members is mGluR6, which contributes domains for coupling the light signal to the intracellular signaling cascade of mGluR6, which is a native component of the cell membrane of ON-bipolar cells in the inner retina.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a compression device for artificial valve replacing device that comprises at least two clamp unit blocks connecting with each other in sequence and enclosing a compressing channel. The compression device further comprises a guide structure for leading all clamp unit blocks to retract towards the center of the compressing channel. In this invention, when the artificial valve replacing device is placed in the compressing channel, the inner wall of the compressing channel props against the peripheral wall of the artificial valve replacing device. When the clamp unit blocks are retracting towards the center of the compressing channel under the action of outside force, the inner wall of the compressing channel applies the force directing to the center of the compressing channel. The device has the low manufacturing cost and is convenient to clean due to the simple structure, fully satisfying the requirements for operation sanitation in use.

Abstract: A stent and a securely-installed artificial valve replacement device having the same, the stent being of a cylindrical structure; the top of the stent is provided with a fixed ear (60); the fixed ear (60) has a neck portion (601) connected to the top of the stent, and a head portion (602) engaged with the fixed head of the stent; the head portion (602) has a bending structure for improving the overall radial thickness; and the artificial valve replacement device is comprised of a stent and a prosthetic valve fixed on the stent. The stent with a bending structure overcomes the problem of easily disengaging from the fixed head of the stent, while not affecting the release of the stent.

Abstract: A device and method for loading an implant into a delivery system are disclose which are capable of simplifying operations required in interventional surgery using the implant. The device includes a guide cap (1), a guider (2) and a guiding tube (3). The guide cap (1) has a conical section (101) and a straight or conical tube (103) in communication with a small open end (102) of the conical section, and the conical section has a large open end (104) that flares outward, thereby forming a flange (105) facing the tube (103). The guider (2) has tapered sections (9, 10) that are tapered along an axis of the guider and thus form large and small open ends (8, 11). The small open end (11) has a diameter greater than a diameter of the small open end (102) of the conical section of the guide cap (1).

Abstract: A tissue-resecting probe includes an elongated outer sleeve extending about an axis to a distal housing having a first window for receiving tissue. An edge of the first window has a dielectric surface. A rotatable inner sleeve has a second window, and at least a portion of an edge of the second window provides a first polarity electrode. Rotation of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve moves the probe between window-open and window-closed configurations to resect tissue.

Abstract: A dental drill system is provided, comprising a drill having a drilling part with a first end configured for drilling a hole in a jaw bone and a shank part with a second end configured for connection to a drill-rotating device and a guiding sleeve for guiding the drill. The guiding sleeve has a first side facing the drill-rotating device and a second side intended to face the jaw bone during a drilling operation. A guiding through-hole extends from the first side to the second side. A rim also extends at least partly around the circumference of the drill, and the system comprises a drill stop sleeve provided with a recess extending circumferentially around an inner side of the drill stop sleeve, allowing the drill stop sleeve to be snap-locked onto the drill. The guiding sleeve also comprises a flange that defines an end position for the drill stop sleeve.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for salvaging red blood cells from patients during a surgical procedure. In one general aspect, a system is described for extracting blood from blood-soaked absorbent surgical materials such as surgical sponges, gauze, tape, and the like. The collected blood and fluids from these materials can be transferred to a cell salvage machine for harvesting viable red blood cells for autotransfusion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a handle assembly (100) for an implant delivery device for folding or unfolding at least one medical implant by means of at least one tension thread, wherein the handle assembly (100) comprises a drum (14) for winding the tension thread thereon by rotating the drum (14); a knob (9) to be rotated by a user of the handle assembly (100) in order to fold or unfold the medical implant, the knob (9) being interconnected with the drum (14) such that the drum (14) is rotated when the knob (9) is rotated; and a force limiter for limiting the maximum force or tension that may be applied or is applicable to the tension thread (11) or to the drum (14) by rotating the knob (9).

Abstract: The present invention relates to set comprising an apparatus (100) for folding or unfolding at least one medical implant (300) by means of at least one tension thread (11, 11?), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a shaft (1) and a tensioning device for altering a form or shape of the foldable and/or unfoldable implant (300) by means of the tension thread (11, 11?). In at least one shaft section thereof, the shaft (1) comprises a plurality of individual shaft fibers (13).

Abstract: A heart valve assembly has a frame comprising an anchoring section, a generally cylindrical leaflet support section, and a neck section that transitions between the anchoring section and the valve support section. The anchoring section has a ball-shaped configuration defined by a plurality of wires that extend from the leaflet support section, with each wire extending radially outwardly to a vertex area where the diameter of the anchoring section is at its greatest, and then extending radially inwardly to a hub. A plurality of leaflets are stitched to the leaflet support section. The heart valve assembly is delivered to the location of a native pulmonary trunk, the vertex area of the anchoring section is deployed into the native pulmonary arteries such that the vertex area is retained in the pulmonary arteries, and then the leaflet support section is deployed in the pulmonary trunk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical device with a balloon-stent assembly comprising a stent, a balloon within the stent, and an ablation member. The medical device can be useful for a combined procedure of balloon angioplasty, radiofrequency ablation, and stent placement. The invention exhibits numerous merits such as simpler and precise operation, and a single device for multiple applications.