Abstract: This invention relates to a novel surgical device scalable to small dimensions for thermally-mediated treatments or thermoplasties of targeted tissue volumes. An exemplary embodiment is adapted for fusing, sealing or welding tissue. The instruments and techniques utilize a thermal energy delivery means, for example an electrical energy source, to instantly elevate the temperature of a biocompatible fluid media within an electrically insulated instrument portion. The altered media which may then be a gas is characterized by a (i) a high heat content, and (ii) a high exit velocity from the working end, both of which characteristics are controlled to hydrate tissue and at the same time denature proteins to fuse, seal, weld or cause any other thermally-mediated treatment of an engaged tissue volume—while causing limited collateral thermal damage and while totally eliminating electrical current flow the engaged tissue volume.

Abstract: An instrument for thermally-mediated therapies in targeted tissue volumes or for volumetric removal of tissue. In one embodiment, the instrument has an interior chamber that includes a diffuser structure for diffusing a biocompatible conductive fluid that is introduced under high pressure. The interior chamber further includes surfaces of opposing polarity electrodes for vaporizing the small cross-section diffused fluid flows created within a diffuser structure. In one embodiment, the diffuser structure includes a negative temperature coefficient of resistance material between the opposing polarity surfaces. The NTCR structure can self-adjust the lengths of current paths between the opposing polarities to insure complete vaporization of the volume of flow of conductive fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-application robotized platform for neurosurgery, comprising: a planning console comprising processing means that can especially receive and process digital images; a positioning robot arm comprising a plurality of arm segments, one of which is terminal and proximal and the other is terminal and distal, said segments being interconnected by articulated elements, the terminal distal arm segment comprising a receiving element arranged in such a way as to receive tools, and the robot arm being guided by the planning console; at least one video image recording means able to record images of the anatomical region to be processed, said means being electrically connectable to the processing means of the planning console, and able to be positioned and fixed to the receiving element of the distal arm segment in a removable manner; tools, instruments and others suitable for being positioned and fixed to the receiving element of the terminal distal arm segment in a removable manner; means

Abstract: Micro-organisms, including fungi, viruses and bacteria such as Mycobacteria and/or fragments of micro-organisms such as cell wall components present in an aqueous liquid are captured to a solid surface by adding to the liquid a sufficient quantity of a water soluble polymer in the presence of the solid surface to displace the micro-organisms and/or fragments from the liquid to the solid surface. The surface may be provided by a bead. The water soluble polymer may be polyethyleneglycol or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: Disclosed are a device for loading a flexible intraocular lens into an injection cartridge capable of serving as a packaging support, an injection cartridge and a set formed by said loading device and an injection cartridge. The loading device comprises a tubular element (1) having an internal passage (10), said passage comprising a receiving section (11), an intermediate truncated folding section (12) and an end section (13) capable of receiving an injection cartridge detachably, a supporting element (3) mounted in said receiving section, capable of supporting a lens in a non-folded state, and a plunger (5) capable of pushing a lens (9) positioned in the receiving section through the truncated intermediate folding section to fold said lens gradually, then in the receiving chamber of an injection cartridge placed in the end section.

Abstract: An instrument for thermally-mediated therapies in targeted tissue volumes or for volumetric removal of tissue. In one embodiment, the instrument has an interior chamber that includes a diffuser structure for diffusing a biocompatible conductive fluid that is introduced under high pressure. The interior chamber further includes surfaces of opposing polarity electrodes for vaporizing the small cross-section diffused fluid flows created within a diffuser structure. In one embodiment, the diffuser structure includes a negative temperature coefficient of resistance material between the opposing polarity surfaces. The NTCR structure can self-adjust the lengths of current paths between the opposing polarities to insure complete vaporization of the volume of flow of conductive fluid.

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: Medical instruments and systems for applying energy to tissue, and more particularly relates to systems for ablating or damaging structures in a body or vessel wall to alter electrical conduction therein to cause an intended therapeutic effect. Variations include devices and methods for generating a high pressure flow of a liquid media and/or a vapor media to treat the targeted tissue by the application of mechanical energy, thermal energy or chemical energy to such targeted tissue.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: A filter cassette and a method for allowing a leak to be detected are disclosed, in which the filter cassette comprises a main body defining a first chamber. The main body includes an inlet and an outlet, a filter separating the first chamber into first and second sub-chambers, the inlet being in fluid communication with the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber being in fluid communication with the outlet. The main body also includes a second chamber is defined by the main body and the filter, wherein in absence of a leak the second chamber is substantially not in fluid communication with the first chamber. The main body further includes a port in fluid communication with the second chamber, whereby measuring a fluid characteristic in the second chamber by means of the port allows a detection of a leak, i.e. an external leak or a bypass leakage.

Abstract: A device for fractionally collecting contents of exhaled air by changing the state of matter of the contents by means of the Joule-Thomson effect arising during the expansion of pressurized gas. The temperature of the exhaled air conducted in a flow channel is lowered, because of the cooling of the expanding gas, to a temperature that is suitable for condensing the contents in the exhaled air flow. This device and method provides a more efficient means by which condensate can be separated from exhaled air in comparison to conveying exhaled air along a cooling surface for the condensation of the contents, as a result of which condensation of the contents occurs only in the area of these cooling surfaces, so that several breath cycles are required for the collection of sufficient condensate for analysis.

Abstract: Methods and devices for delivering energy to lung tissue, for example to cause lung volume reduction by generating a flow of vapor and introducing the flow of vapor into the lung where the vapor delivers thermal energy sufficient to modify lung tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method at surgical operations applying negative pressure wound treatment as a post-surgical event, whereby the pressure around an organ or tissue is distributed by applying an open cell structure around the organ or tissue avoiding a move of the organ or tissue as such.

Abstract: An arrangement for identification of the medical status of a person in case of an accident, said arrangement including: a database where information regarding a specific persons medical status and/or medicaments taken on a regular basis by the person of relevance in case of emergency treatment is stored; passive identification means that make it possible to single out a person and collect the relevant information in the database for the identified person; a signal network for transmitting the required information to and from the database; a scanning device that is able to scan one or more injured persons to read the identification means, said scanning device also includes a transmitter/receiver communicating with the database and displays information; an auto reply service provider that verifies the scanned and transmitted request from the scanning device to the database, retrieves the information from the database and sends it to the scanning device.

Abstract: System (100, 150, 200) for effecting ischemic necrosis in a foreskin of a penis, including a rigid ring (104, 158, 204), at least one elastic ring (106, 158, 206, 282, 284) and at least one circumferential groove (108), the rigid ring including an inner surface, the inner surface including an inner diameter, and an outer surface, the outer surface including an outer diameter, the elastic ring being configured to substantially fit around a surface of the rigid ring, the circumferential groove being located on a surface of at least one of the rigid ring and the elastic ring, wherein the inner diameter of the rigid ring is at least slightly larger than a diameter of a shaft of the penis, wherein a diameter of the elastic ring in a relaxed state is at least substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft of the penis, wherein the rigid ring is placed around a first surface of the foreskin, wherein the elastic ring is placed around a second surface of the foreskin, the foreskin being placed within the circumferen

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method at surgical operations applying negative pressure wound treatment as a post-surgical event, whereby the pressure around an organ or tissue is distributed by applying an open cell structure around the organ or tissue avoiding a move of the organ or tissue as such.