Abstract: A corneal confocal microscope characterized by a particular illumination system.

Abstract: Medical dilatation balloons comprise a polymer that has the attribute of memory, and/or is crosslinked to impart memory. Such balloons exhibit a reduced tendency to overinflate at high inflation pressures. Furthermore, such balloons when shrunk radially by the application of heat while restraining axial shrinkage, exhibit customizable linear or non-linear compliance curves and lower crosslinking profile relative to the same balloon when unshrunk. Also disclosed is an expansive element within a tube whose outer diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the tube from which it was made. In addition, disclosed are (a) processes for preparing crosslinkable polymers, (b) joining crosslinked balloons to catheter systems, (c) forming shrunk balloon elements, and (d) forming an expansive element within a tube whose outer diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the tube from which it was made.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a dialysis device is made available that can be implanted at least partially into the body of a patient and comprises a blood chamber, through which the patient's blood can flow, a dialysis chamber for receiving a dialysate, and a hydraulic pump device for compressing the two chambers alternately by means of a hydraulic fluid, wherein both chambers are each equipped with two valves for controlling the inflow and outflow of blood and dialysate, respectively, and wherein both chambers are connected to each other in an area designed as a membrane.

Abstract: A system for effecting ischemic necrosis in a foreskin of a penis includes an inner ring having an inner surface comprising an inner diameter and an outer surface comprising an outer diameter and at least one circumferential groove; and an outer ring configured to substantially fit around the circumferential groove of the inner ring, wherein the inner ring is configured to fit to a portion of a glans of the penis that lies between an inner surface of the foreskin and the glans of the penis and the at least one outer ring is configured to fit an outer surface of the foreskin, the inner ring and the outer ring thereby compressing the foreskin in the circumferential groove with a compression force, and wherein the compression force is sufficient to effect ischemic necrosis in the foreskin.

Abstract: A support device for supporting a transmission coil on the body of a patient, with a receiving or securing device or a receiving space for receiving or securing the transmission coil in and/or on the support device, and further comprising a detection device for detecting a process of application, a state of application, a process of removal and/or a state of removal of the support device relative to the body of the patient. Further pertaining to a method for operating such a device.

Abstract: A prefilled medical injection device with production specific elements is provided as a single use disposable injection device that is optimally suited for mass production through the Blow Fill Seal manufacturing process. The device utilizes a valve and a needle assembly fused to an insert. The valve and the needle assembly are positioned within the insert forming a conduit. The needle assembly is covered with a needle cap that is detachably coupled to protecting the needle assembly from contamination and a user from accidental needle stick. The insert is engaged to the bellows during the BFS manufacturing process and hermetically sealed by a parison layer that covers exterior portion of the insert and the needle cap. The parison layer is formed and trimmed creating exterior features that facilitate the use of the prefilled medical injection.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an intraocular lens with a proofed surface are disclosed. The proofed surface functions as a barrier to fluid diffusion inside the material and within vacuoles. By preventing the interstitial filling of fluid, the formation of spots inside the polymer matrix is inhibited or reduced. The proofed surface of the intraocular lenses is a highly stable re-assembled surface without any coating or grafting.

Abstract: The method for the automated and assisted acquisition of anatomical surfaces includes a first acquisition of the surfaces undertaken in order to create a first numerical model and a perioperative second acquisition undertaken by scanning the surfaces in order to create a second numerical model for identifying the coordinates of the surfaces. The surfaces are supported by a robotic arm; and then the models are brought into correspondence by resetting. The scanning in the second acquisition includes making a preliminary identification of the coordinates of noteworthy points on the surfaces manually, assisted by the robotic arm, and the identifying parts a the points, in order to construct a reference frame and to determine a scanning region; creating an intermediate model from the reference frame and at least one of the points; preliminary resetting the first model with the second model; and automatically scanning the determined zone.

Abstract: A system and method for the 3D reconstruction of a structure, the method comprising: obtaining at least two calibrated 2D bi-planar images of the structure, associating with each pixel each of the images a textural vector characterizing the distribution of the gradient texture and orientation in a window centered around the pixel, applying a non-linear statistical dimensionality reduction procedure to the textural vectors to obtain reduced dimension textural vectors, creating segmented images of the images using the reduced dimension textural vectors, projecting the representative 3D model onto the segmented images, adjusting the projection of the representative 3D model with the contours and homogeneous zones of the segmented images using the optimization of a cost function to obtain the 3D reconstruction of the structure.

Abstract: Degradable bioprostheses made of collagen-based material having amine-based and ester-based crosslinks are provided, as are methods for their formation and use. Some embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a method of controlling the ratio of amine-based crosslinks to ester-based crosslinks within a collagen-based material to provide a tailorably crosslinked collagen-based material. Some embodiments provide a method of making a degradable bioprosthesis involving controlling crosslinking to afford a degradable bioprosthesis that is partially crosslinked. By controlling the ratio of amine-based to ester-based crosslinks, by controlling the level of crosslinking, or by controlling both of these features, degradable bioprostheses with tailored degradation rates can be synthesized. Some embodiments of degradable bioprostheses have degradation rates that are tailored to allow their use in particular medical applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thrombus filter comprising a sheath (1), a thrombus intercepting net (2) with an intercepting port, a first pushing piece (4) and a control handle. The thrombus filter is also provided with prevention umbrella (3), wherein the direction of the opening of the overfill prevention umbrella (3) is identical to that of the intercepting port. The overfill prevention umbrella (3) is provided outside the thrombus intercepting net (2). A second pushing piece (5) is located in the sheath (1) to push and pull the overfill prevention umbrella (3). The overfill prevention umbrella (3) comprises an umbrella surface (32) and an umbrella stand (31) connected between the second pushing piece (5) and the umbrella surface (32), and the open end of the umbrella surface (32) is a closed shape memory.

Abstract: This invention relates to surgical instruments for applying energy to tissue using a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the targeted tissue. In one embodiment, the system is configured for volumetric removal of tissue by means of high velocity ejection of a vapor media from a first vapor port proximate to soft tissue wherein the vapor-to-liquid phase change of the media applies energy to the tissue. The system provides a second port coupled to a suction source that cooperates with the first vapor port to suction tissue debris from the targeted site.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system for monitoring vital signs, comprises: one or more sensors, wherein the sensors measure vital signs; a monitor station; and one or more portable monitoring devices, wherein monitored data based on the measured vital signs is wirelessly transmitted from the sensors to the monitor station, wherein the monitor station issues one or more alarms to certain ones of the portable monitoring devices as a function of the monitored data, and wherein a portion of the monitored data that pertains to the alarms is wirelessly transmitted to the certain ones of the portable monitoring devices and displayed by the certain ones of the portable monitoring devices.

Abstract: A light-based method of endovascular treatment, in particular, of pathologically altered blood vessels. Provided are a Method of Endovascular Light Treatment and a corresponding Endovascular Light Application Device.

Abstract: A system and method for tissue thermotherapy including a source for generating a vapor phase media for treating a space in a human body, such as and intraluminal or intracavity space. The system further includes a filtering member for allowing a recirculation of flowable media about an interface with tissue, wherein the filtering member prevent ablation detritus from interfering with media outflows from the working end.

Abstract: A light-based method of endovascular treatment, in particular, of pathologically altered blood vessels. Provided are a Method of Endovascular Light Treatment and a corresponding Endovascular Light Application Device.

Abstract: This invention relates to surgical instruments for applying, energy to tissue. In one embodiment, an elongated introducer has a handle portion that includes an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid under pressure. An energy source causes a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior chamber and ejects a flow of vapor media from the working end of the introducer. The flow of vapor is controlled by a computer controller to cause a selected pressure, a selected volume of vapor, and an optional aspiration of vapor condensate. Contemporaneous with tissue contact, the vapor undergoes a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the targeted tissue. In one embodiment, the system is configured for volumetric removal of tissue by means of high velocity ejection of a vapor media from a first vapor port proximate to soft tissue wherein the vapor-to-liquid phase change of the media applies energy to the tissue.

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: Improving cell therapy and tissue regeneration in a patient suffering from a cardiovascular or a neurological disease by treating a tissue of the patient with shock waves and/or applying to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of stem cells and/or progenitor cells. Such treatment increases expression of chemoattractants, pro-angiogenic factors, and pro-survival factors. The chemoattractants can be, for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1). For example, the treated tissue can be located in the patient's heart or in a skeletal muscle of the patient, and the shock waves can be extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) or intracorporeal shock waves. The cardiovascular disease can have an ischemic or non-ischemic etiology. For example, the cardiovascular disease can be a myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, or a dilatative cardiomyopathy. For example, the neurological disease can be a peripheral neuropathy or neuropathic pain.

Abstract: A single use injector is a disposable injection device that is specifically optimized for production using the blow fill seal (BFS) manufacturing process and includes various mechanisms that render the device inoperable and facilitate its safe disposal after use. The single use injector incorporates an ampoule aseptically filled with a medication that is coupled to a hermetically sealed component system. The hermetically sealed component system incorporates various mechanisms that are actuated during the use of the injection device. The injection device is encased in a removable overtube that prevents contamination. upon removal of the overtube, the injection device is activated, by compression of a needle cap that irreversible punctures the ampoule in order to inject the medication through a needle. The injection device additionally incorporates a shield that deploys over the needle following injection of the medication into a patient.