Abstract: There is provided a device and a method for irradiating vascular tissues. The device generally includes a transfer device having a first chamber and a second chamber and a piston slidably disposed between the chambers. A balloon catheter is provided for positioning within the vascular system and is connected to the transfer device such that an inflation lumen of the balloon catheter is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A proximal end of the balloon catheter is affixed to a mounting block which is configured to receive the transfer device. An inflation device is provided to force fluid into the first chamber such that the piston is driven to force a radioactive fluid contained in the second chamber into the balloon.

Abstract: A needle for everting body tissue is a linear member having a back portion, an arcuate tissue penetrating portion, and a generally U-shaped tissue everting portion therebetween. The U-shaped tissue everting portion includes a base and first and second tissue abutment arms, the back portion preferably being collinear with the first arm and oriented at an angle with respect to the base. The needle can be incorporated into an instrument for use in endoscopic procedures. In such instruments the needle can be attached in a fixed position with respect to the instrument, or retractable within a tubular sleeve.

Abstract: A cannula assembly for insertion through tissue is provided having a housing and a cannula having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The cannula is supported at the proximal end portion by the housing. The cannula has a first predetermined length and is shortenable to a second predetermined length relative to the housing.

Abstract: A relay lens assembly and a method for manufacturing a relay lens system for an endoscope includes the steps of providing at least one rod member having first and second curved end surfaces, positioning a mold surface at a predetermined distance from one of the curved end surfaces of the rod member wherein the mold surface has a profile which is the negative of a required optical profile to be formed on the curved end surface, filling a space defined by the predetermined distance between the mold surface and the curved end surface with a moldable light transmissive material and solidifying the moldable material to form a molded layer adhered to the curved end surface.

Abstract: A self-contained powered surgical apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue is disclosed which includes a handle assembly, a gear motor assembly disposed within the handle assembly, a power source disposed within the handle assembly for energizing the motor assembly, an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly detachably connected to a distal end portion of the elongated body, and an elongated drive shaft extending through the elongated body and detachably coupling the motor assembly to the cartridge assembly.

Abstract: Surgical training apparatus and methods are provided simulating a patient having a background radiation emissions level and at least one concentrated source of radiation emissions. The apparatus includes a first zone having a predetermined traceable background radiation emission level. Preferably, this level is generated by incorporating radioactive nuclides into or on the material of construction of the first zone. These radioactive nuclides are well known to those skilled in the art and include Cl-36, Co-57, Co-60, Sr-90, Tc-99, Cs-137, Tl-204, Th-230, Pu-238, Pu-239, Am-241, Cr-51, Sr-85, Y-88, Cd-109, Ba-133, Bi-210, Ge-68, Ru-106, as well as other Alpha and/or Beta emitters.A more concentrated radiation source is incorporated into the apparatus in conjunction with the first zone. This radiation source can be configured, for example, to simulate a concentration of radionucleid labeled antibodies at a tumor site, or, in the case of lymphatic mapping, lesion drainage and accumulation sites.

Abstract: A multi-use disposable endoscope capable of being sterilized and reused for a number of surgical procedures and then discarded is disclosed. The endoscope is adapted to withstand a number of sterilization cycles without experiencing degradation of the functional systems of the scope, and yet retains the cost effective qualities of a disposable endoscope. The endoscope preferably is formed in accordance with methods utilized for manufacturing a disposable endoscope, e.g., incorporating inexpensive plastic components for the housing sections of the scope as well as for the various systems of the scope. Particular attention is directed to adequately sealing potential leakage areas of the endoscope, such as the distal end of the endoscope and the juncture of the endoscopic portion and the eyepiece section.

Abstract: A catgut suture includes a cross linked gelatin coating which is substantially insoluble in tubing or storage solution. The gelatin coating is formed by immersing the gut suture in aqueous gelatin solution, fixing the gelatin in a solution of cross linking agent such as glutaraldehyde, buffering the coating, then drying the suture at a temperature of at least about 50.degree. C.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for surgery is disclosed which includes a retractor having a substantially planar base defining an opening for overlying an operative site on a patient, and at least one retractor blade slidably mounted to the base. The base is positioned on the patient such that the opening therein overlies the operative site. The operative site is percutaneously accessed, and obstructing tissue is retracted by engaging the tissue with the retractor blade. A surgical instrument is provided which is engageable with the base and operable at the operative site through the opening in the base. A surgical procedure is carried out through the opening in the base with the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A system for suture anchor placement includes an apparatus having a handle portion and an operating portion. The handle portion includes a spring, a needle park, and a member for releasably holding a length of the suture. The operating portion includes a sheath tube and a plunger rod slidably disposed within the bore of the sheath tube. The plunger rod is fixedly mounted at its proximal end to the handle. The suture anchor is releasably engaged to the distal end portion of the plunger rod. The sheath tube is mounted to the handle and movable with respect to the handle between a distal position and a proximal position, the sheath tube being resiliently biased to the distal position by the spring and movable to the proximal position in response to proximally directed force of sufficient magnitude applied to the distal end of the sheath tube.

Abstract: A package tray for holding a medical instrument having a resiliently flexible distal end portion improves the control of the distal end during removal of instrument by limiting the withdrawal of the distal end portion of the instrument from an arcuate portion of storage space in the tray to movement in a direction longitudinal with respect to the instrument, thereby preventing side to side whipping motion of the distal end portion upon withdrawal of the instrument from the package.

Abstract: A system for suture anchor placement includes an apparatus having a handle portion and an operating portion. The handle portion includes a spring, a needle park, and a member for releasably holding a length of the suture. The operating portion includes a sheath tube and a plunger rod slidably disposed within the bore of the sheath tube. The plunger rod is fixedly mounted at its proximal end to the handle. The suture anchor is releasably engaged to the distal end portion of the plunger rod. The sheath tube is mounted to the handle and movable with respect to the handle between a distal position and a proximal position, the sheath tube being resiliently biased to the distal position by the spring and movable to the proximal position in response to proximally directed force of sufficient magnitude applied to the distal end of the sheath tube.

Abstract: A method for performing transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) comprises the steps of creating an incision in an outer portion of heart tissue of a patient and creating a channel in the patient's myocardium through the incision by advancing a channel creating device into the myocardium beyond the depth of the incision to remove myocardial tissue without removing all outer portion heart tissue coinciding with the channel. As a result, the remaining outer portion tissue acts as a cap to reduce bleeding from the channel subsequent to removal of the channel creating device. The cap may be in the form of an annular flap of myocardial/epicardial tissue. The channel creating device used to create the channel with the method can be either a mechanical coring device or an advancing lasing device.

Abstract: Channel-bodied surgical needles and surgical incision members are disclosed having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional body portion and a penetrating tip portion formed on at least one end thereof. Preferably, penetrating tip portions are formed at both ends of the channel-bodied portion. The surgical needle and/or surgical incision member may additionally includes apparatus engagement structure formed adjacent either end of the body portion and engagable with a suitable surgical suturing apparatus. The channel-bodied surgical needle and/or surgical incision member may additionally include securement structure for attachment of a length of suture material thereto. There is also disclosed apparatus for forming a channel-shaped body portion and the suture attachment structure. Additionally, methods for suturing tissue sections, particularly vascular tissue sections, with the channel-bodied surgical needle and the channel-bodied surgical incision members, are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that combines mammography equipment with an ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic images of the internal structure of breast tissue that are in geometric registration with a mammogram. The apparatus includes a radiolucent and sonolucent compression plate, and in alternative embodiments, a gantry driven ultrasound transducer or a phased array ultrasonic transducer. Methods are provided for generating a mammogram and a plurality of corresponding ultrasound images without moving the breast between the mammogram exposure and the ultrasound imaging. Methods are also provided for viewing and analyzing the ultrasound images. Apparatus and methods are also provided for enhancing X-ray images obtained from conventional mammographic systems, and with reduced overall X-ray dosage to the patient.

Abstract: A gut suture is coated with a bioabsorbable copolymer obtained by polymerizing a major amount of .epsilon.-caprolactone and a minor amount of at least one other copolymerizable monomer in the presence of polyhydric alcohol as initiator. The coated gut suture can be packaged in the absence of conventional tubing fluid, i.e., in the dry state, while at the same time retaining flexibility, pliability and resistance to fray. In an alternative embodiment, a gut suture is coated with a pre-coating composition prior to being coated with the bioabsorbable copolymer.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier includes a housing, a pair of handles pivotably connected to opposite sides of the housing, a channel assembly which is anchored to the housing and a jaw assembly which is anchored to the channel assembly. The jaws are opened and closed by a cam plate which is slidably positioned in the channel assembly and is provided with cam slots at its distal end to engage drive rivets positioned on the jaw members. A pusher bar assembly is also provided to feed clips from a series of clips to the jaw mechanism, and the instrument operates such that all moving components move in the same direction during the closing stroke of the handle, and then move in the same direction opposite to the closing direction when the handles are in the opening stroke. A novel lockout mechanism is also provided to render the instrument inoperable after all the clips have been utilized from the instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a perfusion stent and method for implanting the same in a TMR channel for perfusing blood to ischemic areas of the head. The stent includes a head and a stem extending perpendicular to the head. The stem includes a cylinder having a plurality of holes. The method comprises the steps of creating the TMR channel, and implanting the perfusion stent within the TMR channel in order for blood within a ventricle to enter the stem and be perfused to the heart muscle.

Abstract: A balloon delivery system for deploying stents including a balloon catheter, and a stent fixedly positioned on the balloon portion of the balloon catheter by at least one protrusion such as annular cuff formed around the balloon. The balloon can include two or more continuous or discontinuous cuffs formed along the balloon which maintain one or more stents in position on the balloon. The protrusion can be created from excess material of the balloon which is configured in a desired fashion around the balloon to form the protrusion. The protrusion improves the fixation of the stent on the balloon catheter until the balloon is inflated to deploy the stent within a body lumen. The protrusion restrains the movement of the stent without a significant change in the overall profile of the balloon delivery system.

Abstract: An occlusion clamp and an applicator for applying the occlusion clamp to body tissue is provided. The occlusion clamp applicator includes a housing having a proximal end having a first opening, a distal end having a second opening, and a pair of finger gripping members. The housing defines a channel which extends between the first and second openings. A plunger is partially positioned within the channel and extends through the first opening. The distal end of the plunger is operably connected to a jaw mechanism which is also slidably positioned within the channel. The jaw mechanism includes a pair of resilient shank portions, each having a distally located jaw member which extends through the second housing opening. Each shank portion also includes a cam surface which engages the distal end of the channel when the plunger is retracted to move the jaw members from a position in spaced relation with each other to a position relatively close in relation with each other.