Abstract: An irrigation catheter having at least two lumens for supplying irrigation fluid in minimally-invasive surgical procedures is revealed. The catheter works alongside but independently of an endoscope or other diagnostic or therapeutic instrument. The catheter may direct flow of the irrigation fluid in the same direction as the body's natural flow, thus enhancing visualization by the endoscope or other instrument.

Abstract: A disposable access sheath having a deflectable tip is provided. The access sheath is very flexible and allows a physician or other medical professional to provide diagnostic or therapeutic services to a remote body cavity. The access sheath has a deflectable tip that is able to bend at least 90° or 180° or more. This flexibility allows the physician or medical professional to make a very tight turn to visualize or treat the body cavity being treated. The access sheath may include a visualization system, a working channel, an irrigation channel, or other desirable features. The access sheath may include an interface at the proximal end of the working channel for insertion of an instrument for diagnosis or treatment of a human or mammalian patient.

Abstract: A retrieval device is provided for capturing and retrieving stones, calculi, and other objects from a body. The retrieval device includes an irrigation orifice to irrigate a passageway. Irrigating the passageway helps to keep the viewing area free from debris and particulate matter.

Abstract: A retrieval device is provided for retrieving stones, calculi, and other objects from a body. The device allows for a retrieval basket to be articulated and extended simultaneously. The device also allows for the basket to be articulated and retracted simultaneously.

Abstract: A surgical cutter with a flat blade and a cutting wedge allows a surgeon to safely trim a foreign object inside a body, such as a urethral sling inside a patient, so that a minimum of sling remains in place after cutting. The shortened sling minimizes tension applied to the urethra and to any nearby bladder tissues. The cutter may also be used to trim other prostheses or devices implanted within a patient. The cutter is configured so that the cutting surface of the blade does not contact tissue of the patient.

Abstract: A retention device for use in a human or mammalian body includes superelastic wires that expand when they are released from a confined state. The retention device may have the outer form of a Foley catheter. One or more superelastic wires within the balloon of a Foley catheter help to insure retention within the body, such as within a urinary bladder.

Abstract: A method for aspirating an oocyte from a human female is provided. The method includes the step of providing at least one ovarian cortical piece, implanting the ovarian cortical piece in the human female at a heterotopic location, and triggering oocyte maturity in the at least one ovarian cortical piece. The method also includes the steps of providing an aspiration needle and retrieving at least one oocyte from the at least one ovarian cortical piece using the aspiration needle.

Abstract: A radiopaque component is included in manipulation and retrieval devices useful for kidney and bile stones. These devices may include a retriever or manipulator, to remove a stone or other object from a body. Metallic three component alloys of Ni—Ti and at least a third metal are useful for their radiopacity. Manipulators, graspers, nets, jaws, and other retrieval devices or end-effectors may be made with such alloys.

Abstract: An embryo transfer catheter includes an echogenic tip or radiopaque tip and a unique stop that allows a physician to more accurately place embryos in a patient's uterus. The catheter is preferably used with an ultrasound transducer placed in the patient's vagina, allowing the physician to better visualize the distance between the cervical opening and the desired location for placement in the uterus. Abdominal placement of a transducer is also helpful.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a catheter with a controlled-release outer layer including a pharmacologically active ingredient for helping to relieve pain associated with the implantation of the device. The device includes a base material with an outer bioactive material layer including, for example, an analgesic or a local anesthetic.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a catheter includes an outer controlled-release layer with a pharmacologically active ingredient for helping to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of cancer, or an immunosuppressive drug. The outer layer includes a bioactive material such as paclitaxel or other drug known to help reduce the incidence of formation of tumors or other cancerous items within the body of a patient.

Abstract: An implantable medical device 10 such as a catheter with a controlled-release pharmacologically active ingredient for minimizing the risk of infection or other physiological afflictions associated with the implantation thereof. The device includes a base material and a controlled-release outer layer containing a bioactive material, for example, paclitaxel.

Abstract: A surgical tissue morcellator (10) for percutaneously morcellating and debulking tissue during a minimally invasive, endoscopic surgical procedure. In an insertion configuration, the morcellator includes an outer cutting sheath (11) and an insertion member (15) inserted therethrough and positioned relative thereto via a connector (20). The connector includes an adaptor (18) positioned at the proximal portion (13) of the outer cutting sheath. The adaptor includes a lock member (22) such as a pin extending radially into the bore (19) of the adaptor. A second lock member (23) in the form of a T-shaped slot is formed in the surface of the insertion member to receive and position the pin therein. In a morcellation configuration, the morcellator includes a handle (24) that is positioned in the bore of the adaptor.

Abstract: A releasable, surgical clamp (10) for insertion through a surgical introducer sheath (11) and into a cavity (12) of a patient (13) during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The releasable clamp comprises a continuous wire (39) that is shaped for insertion through the surgical sheath and into opposing jaws (14, 15). The jaws have a plurality of open and closed positions. One of the jaws has a retainer (16) that maintains the lateral displacement (17) between the opposing jaws and prevents the clamp from twisting off a vessel. A resilient assembly (18) including a torsion spring (19) and first and second resilient arms (20, 21) extending to the opposing jaws urges the jaws to a closed position. Each of the resilient arms includes a distal portion which cross each other urging the opposing jaws to a closed position.

Abstract: Ureteral stents are tubes which are placed in the ureter between the bladder and kidney to maintain patency when otherwise due to stone burden, invasive tumor, scarring, or whenever the ureter has become obstructed in order to provide drainage of urine from the kidney to the bladder. In the past, stents of this nature are open ended tubes and may allow for the reflux of urine back into the kidney when there is sufficient buildup of pressure within the bladder. Since urine is generally considered to be sterile when within the body, this is generally not a problem. However, if the patient has a bladder infection and/or pyrogens are present, then urine refluxed into the ureter and kidney may result in the development of sepsis in the patient and cause serious illness and even death. The stent of the present invention has a very specific design and avoids this problem by providing a stent having a closed section, i.e.

Abstract: A surgical retractor, retainer, tensioner, tenaculum, spreader or stabilizer (10) useful in open surgical procedures, or in laparoscopic or other endoscopic procedures, includes a plurality of tissue-engaging elements (12, 14) (such as a plurality of atraumatic hooks (18)) connected by a central elastic member (16). The elastic member (16) is preferably composed of a medical grade rubber, silicone or fluoropolymer elastomer, and is preferably configured or shaped as an O-ring (22) or regular polygon (66, 74, 88, or 92). When the retractor (10) is intended and particularly adapted for use in laparoscopic or other endoscopic procedures, the elastic member (16) is collapsible in a direction transverse to an imaginary line drawn between the plurality of tissue engaging elements (12, 14), so as to allow the retractor (10) to be passed through a surgical cannula into and out of the patient's body during the procedure.

Abstract: A filter trap (10) for removing spermatozoa of relatively lower viability from a fluid containing both higher and lower viability spermatozoa includes a conduit (14) which compresses silica glass wool (16) to a density adequate to prevent the passage therethrough of lower viability spermatozoa and undesired extraneous materials, while permitting the passage therethrough of higher viability spermatozoa. The conduit (14) is preferably formed by a nested, locking pair of tubes (18) and (20) having respective downstream ends (22) and (24) which compress the glass wool (16) between them. The invention is particularly advantageous over the prior art in that it assures fixing the density of the glass wool (16) at a useful value, thereby preventing inadequate separation or inadequate flow of the fluid, while avoiding the training costs previously encountered in setting the density of the glass wool manually.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument for coring, debulking, and removing a large, tough tissue mass such as a fibroid tumor through a trocar access sheath during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The instrument includes an outer sheath having a distal cutting end for coring the tissue mass and an inner elongated member having a distal, tissue affixation end such as a helical coil for inserting into and stabilizing the tissue mass during the surgical coring procedure. The cutting instrument further includes an instrument engagement assembly when in an engaged position for urging the outer sheath toward the distal end of the inner elongated member. As a result, tissue affixed to the distal end of the inner elongated member is cored as the outer sheath is urged toward the distal end of the inner member and engages the affixed tissue. The instrument engagement assembly includes sheath and member engagement subassemblies.

Abstract: A rotational surgical instrument including a working head connected to a rotatable, pencil-like handle. The handle includes a casing with distal and proximal end caps, an elongated outer member extending into the casing, and a actuation link extending from the distal end cap through the casing and elongated member to the working head. An actuating mechanism is positioned distally from the distal end cap about the proximal portion of the elongated member for slidably actuating the working head between and open and closed positions. A compression spring is included in the passageway of the casing around the actuation link between the proximal end cap and the proximal end of the elongated member to return the working head to the nonactuated position. Keyed surfaces are included within the passageway of the casing and attached to the distal end of the casing and the proximal end of the elongated member for preventing rotation of the elongated member with respect to the casing and actuation link.

Abstract: A rotational pressure drive for filling a medical syringe with a fluid and obtaining, maintaining, and releasing a desired fluid pressure within the syringe. The commercially available medical syringe includes a barrel with a plunger extending therein. Extending laterally and radially about the proximal end of the syringe barrel are several flanges. The rotational pressure drive comprises a hollow cylindrical chamber with a partially closed, proximal end with an opening therethrough. The drive further includes an axial extension member extending through the opening in the partially closed end for engaging and urging the proximal end of the syringe plunger toward the partially closed, proximal end. The drive, in another aspect, includes a syringe plunger having a distal and a proximal portion. The distal portion is inserted into the syringe barrel with the proximal portion extending through the opening of the partially closed, proximal portion of the drive.