Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke that provide immediate blood flow restoration to a vessel occluded by a clot and, after reestablishing blood flow, address the clot itself. Immediate blood flow restoration advantageously can facilitate natural lysis of the clot and also can reduce or obviate the concern for distal embolization due to fragmentation of the clot. Several embodiments of the invention provide for progressive, or modular, treatment based upon the nature of the clot. For example, the progressive treatment can include immediate restoration of blood flow, in-situ clot management, and/or clot removal depending on the particular circumstances of the treatment. The in-situ clot management can include, for example, lysis, maceration, and/or removal.

Abstract: A medical device having at least one static state, at least one activated state, and at least one active region including electroactive polymer (EAP) capable of fine electro-activated movements. The EAP movements include bending components for proper alignment, rotating components for proper fittings, making components more rigid or flexible, and increasing and decreasing the volume of components. The fine movements allow for highly versatile and adaptable medical devices.

Abstract: A self-expanding aneurysm cover device which takes the form of an outwardly biased cylindrical skeletal frame in which the proximal end of the cylindrical skeletal frame forms a loop which extends at an oblique angle to the axis of the cylindrical skeletal frame. A positioning tab extends from the proximal end of the skeletal frame which when pulled causes the cylindrical skeletal frame to collapse to a reduced diameter for removal of the device from a vessel.

Abstract: An end effector includes a first portion having a first specific acoustic impedance value, and a second portion having a second specific acoustic impedance value less than the first specific acoustic impedance value. The first portion includes a proximal end segment of the end effector and a distal end segment of the end effector, and the proximal end segment and the distal end segment are composed of a first material. The second portion includes an insert segment of the end effector composed of a second material. The insert segment is located between the proximal end segment and the distal end segment along the longitudinal axis of the end effector. The insert segment functions to bridge or fill the nodal energy gap. A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis as a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer.

Abstract: A surgical device. The surgical device may comprise a transducer, an end effector, a generator and a control circuit. The transducer may be configured to provide vibrations. The end effector may be coupled to the transducer and may extend from the transducer along the longitudinal axis. The generator may provide an electrical signal to the transducer. Also, the control circuit may modify a current amplitude of the electrical signal in response to a change in a vibration frequency of the end effector. Accordingly to various embodiments, the control circuit may detect a first contribution to a vibration frequency of the end effector, the first contribution originating from tissue in contact with the end effector. Also, according to various embodiments, the control circuit may indicate a change in a vibration frequency of the end effector.

Abstract: The invention relates to an epilator (10) comprising tweezers elements (12). In accordance with the invention at least the surfaces of the tweezers elements (12) are at least in part made of a basic material reinforced with a filling material for at least 30%, the filling material comprising a hardness of at least 3 on Moh's hardness scale.

Abstract: A surgical device is operable to coextrude a multilayered biocompatible tissue repair plug in situ within a lumen in a patient. The device comprises a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, a plurality of conduits extending through the shaft, a plurality of media chambers, and an actuator. At least one of the media chambers contains a suspension of at least one tissue fragment having at least one viable cell in a biocompatible carrier. The actuator is operable to cause media in each of the chambers to be urged through, and expelled from the orifice of, the conduit in communication therewith. The orifices are located at the distal end of the shaft such that media from the media chambers may be ejected into a lumen in a patient in order to form a multilayered biocompatible tissue repair plug in situ. The conduits and their orifices are all coaxially aligned.

Abstract: A medical instrument has a rod-shaped body which has a distal end section which can be inserted through a vagina into an uterus. A bell-shaped element is mounted on the rod-shaped body. The bell-shaped element being slidingly displaceable along said rod-shaped body at least between an axial position on said rod-shaped body close to a proximal end thereof and up to said distal end section inserted in an uterus.

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 apparatus for the treatment of venous stasis includes an elongated intraluminal member shaped and dimensioned for passage through vessels of a subject. The intraluminal member includes a proximal end and a distal end. A conduit extends from proximate the proximal end of the intraluminal member to proximate the distal end of the intraluminal member. The conduit is shaped and dimensioned for fluid communication between the proximal end of the intraluminal member and the distal end of the intraluminal member. The distal end of the intraluminal member includes disruption means proximate thereto for ablating a predetermined vessel wall. A method is also provided for the treatment of venous stasis. The method is achieved by advancing an elongated intraluminal member through a vein to a treatment site, activating the intraluminal member for ablation of the treatment site and injecting sclerosant into the vein at the treatment site.

Abstract: A tourniquet system, having at least one circumferential enclosed channel formed in a garment; a tourniquet band positioned in the at least one circumferential enclosed channel; a tightening and securing mechanism associated with the tourniquet band, wherein the tightening and securing mechanism includes two or more apertures formed therethrough, and wherein at least a portion of the tourniquet band loops through the apertures of the tightening and securing mechanism, such that when the tightening and securing mechanism is turned, a diameter of the tourniquet band is decreased and a tourniquet force is applied to an inside wall of the circumferential enclosed channel; and at least one portal in the garment, proximate the circumferential enclosed channel, to provide access to the tightening and securing mechanism.

Abstract: The application of the procedure through a natural orifice of the present invention includes the steps of: inserting a flexible endoscope through the natural orifice to the alimentary tract; incising the close-contact portion of the alimentary tract and the gall bladder under a guidance of a device for identifying the positional relationship from the alimentary tract side and forming an puncture; extracting stones in the gall bladder from the body; and removing the endoscope after completing the procedure.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) injector for delivering an IOL into an eye of a patient. The injector includes an IOL load chamber and connected delivery tube, and a push rod for urging the IOL through the delivery tube and out of a distal tip thereof. The push rod is guided and biased against one side of the injector load chamber. The injector may include an inflatable pusher for urging the IOL through the delivery tube and out of a distal tip thereof. The inflatable pusher has a proximal end that may be open to an internal cavity of the injector, wherein a plunger movable in the injector cavity forces fluid such as air or saline into the pusher. A distal end of the pusher may be forked to capture a trailing end of the IOL, or may have a bulbous configuration to ensure the pusher does not pass the IOL.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification probe includes a first portion for interconnecting the probe with a phacoemulsification machine. A probe tip has a first end connected with the first portion and a second end curved up to a predetermined angle. The probe tip defines a channel therein for aspirating material through the probe tip from a surgical region.

Abstract: A reinforcement device for reinforcing tissues having one or more structural deficiencies includes a longitudinally-extending reinforcing layer for treating the structural deficiency, a plurality of spiked naps distributed across the reinforcing layer and projecting therefrom for adhering to the tissue, and a dissolvable matrix layer covering at least a portion of the reinforcing layer and a portion of the plurality of spiked naps. The matrix layer increases the time before the spiked naps substantially adhere to the tissue, thereby allowing the practitioner additional time to position the reinforcement device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise a transducer and an end effector. The transducer may be configured to provide vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency and may comprise a piezoelectric stack positioned along the longitudinal axis. The transducer also may comprise a first metallic end mass positioned along the longitudinal axis adjacent a first end of the piezoelectric stack and a second metallic end mass positioned along the longitudinal axis adjacent a second end of the piezoelectric stack. The length of the transducer may be greater than or equal to of one wavelength and less than ½ of one wavelength. The end effector may be coupled to the transducer and may extend along the longitudinal axis. The length of the transducer and the end effector may be a multiple of ½ of one wavelength.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of removing scar tissue from an eye that includes inserting a device including an array of micro-rods into an eye, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature; contacting a scar tissue with the array of micro-rods; and removing the array of micro-rods and the scar tissue from the eye. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a medical device for engaging a tissue including and an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods that is connected to the cannula, wherein the sharp feature of the at least one micro-rod is angled from a plane that is normal to a face of the base of the array of glass micro-rods.

Abstract: An injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye includes a lumen. The lumen can include a terminal portion at a distal end and a proximal portion juxtaposed with the terminal portion. An injector plunger can be disposed within the lumen for generating a driving force on the intraocular lens. The injector can include a lens frictional force that has a first value when the lens is at a first location within the proximal portion and a second value when the lens is at a second location within the terminal portion. The first value can be smaller than the second value. In some embodiments, the lens frictional force increases abruptly from the first value to the second value as the lens approaches the distal end of the lumen.

Abstract: An end effector includes a first portion having a first specific acoustic impedance value, and a second portion having a second specific acoustic impedance value less than the first specific acoustic impedance value. The first portion includes a proximal end segment of the end effector and a distal end segment of the end effector, and the proximal end segment and the distal end segment are composed of a first material. The second portion includes an insert segment of the end effector composed of a second material. The insert segment is located between the proximal end segment and the distal end segment along the longitudinal axis of the end effector. The insert segment functions to bridge or fill the nodal energy gap. A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis as a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided with a gripping part arranged in a stationary manner on a tubular guide housing having a guide hole and with an actuating lever, which is pivotably mounted thereon and which is in functional connection via a lever arm with a plunger. The plunger is axially shiftable in a mounting housing, via which a tool can be actuated. The plunger has, in its end area located adjacent to the lever arm, a circumferential, radially expanded pushbutton, via which the plunger is guided axially adjustably against the spring force of an axial compression spring in the guide hole of the guide housing. The mounting housing is provided with a ring shoulder for axial fixation in the guide hole of the guide housing.