Abstract: An instrument is provided for supporting a tubular vascular graft during endovascular implantation and methods for use thereof. In one embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to each define a loop and two straight portions. In a second embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to define outwardly-biased tines, wherein, threads are sewn to portions of the vascular graft and connected to the tines. The instrument is collapsible due to the flexibility of the guidewires used to form the instrument. In an uncollapsed state, with a length of graft material being mounted to the instrument, the loops or tines may bias the graft into a semi-expanded state with a passage being defined through the graft. An unexpanded stent is introduced into the passage of the semi-expanded graft to both further expand the graft and provide reinforcement.

Abstract: An instrument is provided for supporting a tubular vascular graft during endovascular implantation and methods for use thereof. In one embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to each define a loop and two straight portions. In a second embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to define outwardly-biased tines, wherein, threads are sewn to portions of the vascular graft and connected to the tines. The instrument is collapsible due to the flexibility of the guidewires used to form the instrument. In an uncollapsed state, with a length of graft material being mounted to the instrument, the loops or tines may bias the graft into a semi-expanded state with a passage being defined through the graft. An unexpanded stent is introduced into the passage of the semi-expanded graft to both further expand the graft and provide reinforcement.

Abstract: An instrument is provided for supporting a tubular vascular graft during endovascular implantation and methods for use thereof. In one embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to each define a loop and two straight portions. In a second embodiment, the instrument is formed from two flexible guidewires bent to define outwardly-biased tines, wherein, threads are sewn to portions of the vascular graft and connected to the tines. The instrument is collapsible due to the flexibility of the guidewires used to form the instrument. In an uncollapsed state, with a length of graft material being mounted to the instrument, the loops or tines may bias the graft into a semi-expanded state with a passage being defined through the graft. An unexpanded stent is introduced into the passage of the semi-expanded graft to both further expand the graft and provide reinforcement.

Abstract: A filter and method for trapping emboli during endovascular procedures are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the filter is formed from a bent, flexible guidewire shaped to define a frame and a porous filtering material mounted to portions thereof. In a collapsed state, the filter can readily pass through the lumen of a catheter and into the bloodstream of a patient. Upon completion of an endovascular procedure, the filter is collapsed and retracted into the catheter. In alternative embodiments of the invention, porous filtering material is mounted to external portions of a catheter, and a control guidewire is provided to selectively expand the filter between open and closed states.

Abstract: A catheter is provided to maintain minimally invasive access for exchanging internal biliary stents. The catheter includes a catheter housing and a catheter obturator. The catheter housing includes an elongated hollow tube with an enlarged flange member at one end, and the diameter of the tube is sized such that a guidewire may pass through it, gaining access to an occluded internal biliary stent. The catheter obturator is used to seal off the hollow tube of the catheter housing for preventing any backflow of bile from occurring through the catheter lumen.

Abstract: A process for lowering the blood cholesterol of hyperlipidemic patients by oral ingestion of pyruvate and a confection (cereal bar, fruit bar, candy) containing pyruvate as the ingestion medium.

Abstract: A tendon approximator employs two connected, normally closed clamps, which are each formed from two extruded elements. The two extruded elements are connected together in their mid-region by means of non-circular cam on a base element and a corresponding non-circular cam surface on a clamping element. In the normally closed position of the individual clamps, the cam and cam surface urge the device into a jaw-closed position with the handles being spaced apart. In a preferred embodiment two of the clamps are connected by means of rods extending through corresponding handle portions of the two clamps.

Abstract: A nutrient composition includes at least two oligopeptides of amino acids having in the N-terminal position of at least one oligopeptide a residue of glycine and having in the N-terminal position of at least one oligopeptide a residue of L-alanine, L-lysine or L-arginine. The aqueous compositions may also contain free amino acids and may contain other nutrient substances such as fats, oligosaccharides, minerals, trace elements, vitamins and free amino acids. The compositions are intended for oral or parenteral use with mammals. Compositions having dipeptide concentrations higher than prior art compositions are disclosed. Compositions containing elevated concentrations of total protein greater than heretofor proposed employ both the described oligopeptides and also free amino acids.

Abstract: Mammal skin having wrinkles can be treated to remove wrinkles by abrading elevated portions of the epithelial layer with an ultrasonic surgical tool adapted to abrade soft tissue. The subcutaneous tissue in the selected region is medicated by subcutaneous injection of anaesthetic, vaso constrictor and spreading factor in effective quantities.

Abstract: A microscope has a voice activated control system which permits precise location of the microscope and precise focusing by means of voice commands uttered by the microscope operator. When the microscope is in a movement mode, the movement is terminated by any sound exceeding a pre-established acoustic threshold level. Any microscope location can be identified and appropriate data is stored in a memory drive to permit the microscope to return to an identified location with a single voice command. The microscope is combined with a screen monitor and/or an acoustic speaker to provide visible and/or acoustic responses from the control system. The system is practical for retrofitting existing remotely controllable microscopes.

Abstract: A cell harvester tray formed from lightweight plastic for holding scintillation vials. In one embodiment the tray has a plurality of parallel, aligned wells, each well being adapted to support one scintillation vial. In an alternative embodiment the tray is provided with generally parallel aligned bores extending through a top surface and adapted to press-fit a scintillation vial whereby all of the top edges of the scintillation vials are maintained in a common level. Guide means are molded into the block for aligning the block in a cell harvester.

Abstract: A normally closed clamp is provided which is formed from two extruded elements which are connected together in their midregion by means of a non-circular cam on a base element and a corresponding non-circular cam surface on a clamping element. In the normally closed position, the cam and cam surface urge the device into a jaw-closed position with the handles being spaced-apart. When the handles are brought together, the jaw members separate and the relative position of the cam surface and the cam member is altered. The device may be used as a tissue separator. Two of the devices may be assembled together as a tendon approximator.

Abstract: A marking device provides a circular mark on the skin of the breast of a patient concentric with the areola of the patient's breast. The device is a cylindrical tubular member having an open circular end which is the marking element and having a pair of cross markings at the other end on an optically transparent wall to permit optical centering of the device with respect to the breast areola prior to skin marking. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of markers in a common cylindrical tubular member having one circular diameter at one end and a different circular diameter at the other end.

Abstract: A method for treating animals having diabetic tendencies to improve the glucose metabolism of the animal by oral administration of therapeutically effective amounts of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone. The treatment lowers Glucose Tolerance Test Values and lowers Fasting Blood Glucose Test values.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cyclic control of both potential and current in electrolysis, called Cyclic, Controlled-potential, controlled current Electrolysis. The method can be used with a two-electrode cell (W and C), or a three-electrode set-up using a reference electrode R to form two half cells. The method involves supplying a controlled current, preferably a constant current, to the W and C electrodes to operate the electrolysis within well-defined upper and lower potential limits. In a first embodiment (called the constant-current, preset-voltage mode), when a predetermined voltage is reached, the current is reversed until a second predetermined voltage is reached. The cycle is then repeated continously. In a second embodiment (called the preset-voltage, preset-time mode) the current is maintained constant until the predetermined voltage is reached. Then the voltage is maintained constant by reducing the current until a predetermined time of operation has elapsed.

Abstract: A microsurgery tool for use in anastomosis of small vessels has a thin shaft with a pair of forwardly projecting tines defining a throat for receiving the pointed end of a suture needle. The microsurgery tool is inserted between confronting ends of vessels into engagement with the inner wall of one vessel for receiving a suture needle point passing through the outer wall of the vessel and thereafter is withdrawn from the space between the vessels to engage the outer surface of the other vessel where it receives the pointed end of the same suture needle passing through the inner wall of the other vessel.

Abstract: A method for reducing the weight gain in an animal by orally administering ver a prolonged period a therapeutically effective amount of dihydroxyacetone to which may be added riboflavin. The method also includes administering dihydroxyacetone and/or pyruvate in therapeutically effective amounts to increase the glycogen store in the liver.

Abstract: Improved low-potential electrochemical sensors and method for rapid, accurate, in vitro and in vivo measurement of the concentration of carbohydrates in organic or biological fluids by cyclic voltammetric or coulometric scan within a restricted voltage domain and identifying one or more oxidation and/or reduction current peaks, with the concentration of the carbohydrate being a linear function of the current output. Two well defined, sharp, distinctly separated, specific, reproducable and interference-free peaks have been discovered in the low-potential voltage domain of -0.9V to -0.2V, cathodic reduction Peak 1 and anodic oxidation Peak 2 in the range of -0.70V to -0.90V. The scan is pulsed or a steady sweep, and sensitivity increases with increased scan rate in the range of 30-50 mV/sec. Pulses may range on the order of 20-50 millisecond in duration, and sampling during the last 1.5 milliseconds of the pulse restricts values to pure oxidation/reduction currents.

Abstract: A microsurgery tool for use in anastomosis of small vessels has a thin arcuate shaft or tube with a tubular distal end having its tubing cut away to define a trough for receiving the pointed end of a suture needle. The microsurgery tool is inserted between confronting ends of vessels into a first vessel for receiving a suture needle point passing through the outer wall of the first vessel. Thereafter the tool is withdrawn from the space between the vessels and the convex outer surface of the trough engages the outer surface of the second vessel where it supports the wall of the second vessel while the point of the same suture needle is passed through the inner wall of the second vessel.