Abstract: A device and method for treating a body conduit/lumen having an undesired reduced diameter include delivering an expandable stent in a contracted configuration to a target location. The stent has small cells that form an open tight mesh providing the effective capture of small particles such as thrombi. Preferably, the tight mesh is combined with structure that permits creation of large side openings to accommodate lumen branches.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument according to the present invention includes: a wire disposed in a flexible sheath and capable of freely projecting relative to the flexible sheath, the distal end of the wire expanding in radius to form a loop section or a basket section upon being projected from the sheath; and a fixture cylinder for fixing the inserted proximal end of the wire, wherein the fixture cylinder is provided with a wire-radius-increasing-direction-regulating section for regulating the direction in which the radius of the wire increases; and a wire-fixing section, disposed in the vicinity of the proximal end relative to the wire-radius-increasing-direction-regulating section, for fixing the wire.

Abstract: A system and method for harvesting, storing, and implanting biological units, in particular hair follicular units (FUs). The system is particularly useful to facilitate hair transplant procedures. FUs are harvested from a body surface, either attached to a patient or in a strip of removed tissue, and shuttled into a cartridge having a plurality of receptacles. The receptacles are open in a distal direction toward a removal tool, but a cover over the proximal ends of the receptacles prevents the FUs from continuing out of the cartridge. The cover is made of a permissible medium, which may be fluid permeable and/or puncturable. One way to shuttle the FUs is to provide a pressure differential, such as by applying suction to the proximal end of a receptacle. The shuttle subsystem may be incorporated within an overall automated or robotic system, or the shuttle subsystem may form part of a semi-automated or even manual apparatus.

Abstract: Tools and methods are provided for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool. The tools may incorporate retention members and mechanisms configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. Some of the retention members are stationary and some are movable within the lumen of the biological unit removal tools. The distal tips of the tools are desirably configured to reduce the chance of transection of a biological unit, such as by including both cutting segments and blunt relief segments. A number of dual concentric tube embodiments permit a division of removal functions. Distal fluid or gas delivery may supplement a vacuum in a luminal space to help extract biological units from surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Described is a method for deploying a stent-graft in the aorta, the method including positioning a shunt to go along a portion of a brain-supplying artery (BSA) into the aorta; deploying a stent-graft in the aorta along a portion of the shunt; and removing the shunt. Also described is a removable shunt adapted for deployment along a brain-supplying artery into an aorta to supply blood to the artery during deployment of a stent-graft in the aorta, the removable shunt including a stiff segment that is stiff enough to remain at least partially open when between the aorta and the stent-graft and large enough to allow sufficient blood supply to the brain during the deployment of the stent-graft; and a mechanism for facilitating safe removal of the shunt from between the stent-graft and the aorta.

Abstract: A medical device having at least one static state, at least 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 pooper 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: Various devices are described to provide filtering of flow from the aorta to the left carotid artery and the right carotid artery. The filters can be brought into a desired position through one or more peripheral arteries. A single filter device can provide the desired filtering or a plurality of devices can be used. In particular a single filter device can span between the brachiocephalic artery and the left carotid artery. These filter devices can be used effectively to capture emboli generated during procedures on the heart so that emboli do not travel to the patient's brain where the emboli can cause a stroke or other adverse event. In particular, these filters can be used during percutaneous procedures on the heart, such as endovascular heart valve replacement.

Abstract: A method and a stent/graft device for intraoperative repair of a damaged portion of a body vessel. The stent/graft device has a length at least as long as the length of the damaged portion of the vessel undergoing repair, and is positioned within the vessel such that the device at least spans the length of the damaged vessel portion. The stent/graft device is securely engaged with the vessel at the site of the damage in a manner such that migration of the device in said vessel is inhibited.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The instrument includes a housing. A plurality of sensors are located in the housing in a spaced apart orientation from each other. A collar is moveably mounted to the housing into a plurality of different collar orientations on the housing. A lever comprising an actuator is moveably coupled to the collar and, with the collar located in any one of the plurality of different collar orientations, the lever is operable to move the actuator relative to one of the plurality of sensors in order to vary a signal produced by that sensor.

Abstract: A device for drawing tissues together and creating an anastomosis comprises a main guide wire (66, 86) suitable to receive and draw anastomotic devices (10; 16; 24) in order to draw together portions (A; B) of tissues to be joined by means of anastomosis. The main guide wire (66, 86) is suitable to be shaped like an open ring crossing the portions (A, A?; B, B?) of tissues to be joined by means of anastomosis (66, 86), wherein the ends of the main guide wire (66, 86) are different and distinguishable from each other. The main guide wire (66, 86) has a tubular or hollow structure suitable to house at least one needle for a push or radiofrequency perforation of the tissues.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an intraluminal prosthesis within a patient's body includes an inner sheath having longitudinally spaced proximal and distal inner sheath ends, and a nose cone connected to the distal inner sheath end. An intraluminal prosthesis sheath has longitudinally spaced proximal and distal intraluminal prosthesis sheath ends and a hollow intraluminal prosthesis sheath bore at least partially surrounding the inner sheath. A stopper is connected to the inner sheath at a location longitudinally spaced from the nose cone and extends radially between the inner sheath and the intraluminal prosthesis sheath. An annular intraluminal prosthesis space is defined radially between the intraluminal prosthesis sheath and the inner sheath and longitudinally between the stopper and the nose cone. A method for delivering an intraluminal prosthesis within a patient's body is also described.

Abstract: A portable surgical tray unit can include a portable surgical tray for housing a processing unit, and that includes an opening extending entirely therethrough. The portable surgical tray unit can also include a plurality of instruments connected to the portable surgical tray and operably coupled to the processing unit, and a user input device positioned on at least one of the instruments. The user input device can be operably coupled to the processing unit and can be configured to receive a user input for controlling an operating parameter of one or more of the instruments. The processing unit can be configured to receive user input through the user input device and transmit an operating command to the one or more instruments. The portable surgical tray and the plurality of instruments can be sterilized and prepackaged in a single package.

Abstract: The vein holder has an upright wall forming a central opening. The central opening is large enough to allow easy access by a needle. A bottom flange extends outwardly from the wall and rests against the patient's skin. It is the bottom surface of the flange 14 which holds the skin tight to prevent movement of the vein relative to the skin. In addition, pressure applied by the vein holder closes the vein at an end away from the syringe opening.

Abstract: An endoscopic treatment instrument is provided comprising: a cylinder adapted to be fitted over a tip of an insertion section of an endoscope; a loop-shaped snare wire which protrudes in the cylinder from a snare sheath that is extendable and retractable with respect to the insertion section and which is extendable within the cylinder; a hooked portion which is formed and radially inwardly extended from the circumference of the tip of cylinder and which holds the snare wire within the cylinder; a locking portion which is provided on the hooked portion and retains a folded-back portion of the snare wire that is forwardly moved toward the cylinder tip with respect to the snare sheath and by means of which the snare wire is turned upside-down around the folded-back portion.

Abstract: Provided therein are apparatuses, systems and methods for storing and retrieving a corneal implant and for delivering the corneal implant in or on the cornea. In an embodiment, a insertion system comprises an inserter for delivering a corneal implant to a desired location in or on the cornea. The inserter has a holding space at its distal end for holding a corneal implant therein. A solution may substantially fill the holding space with the corneal implant to keep the implant hydrated and to hold the implant in the holding space by the surface tension of the solution. The corneal implant may be preloaded in the holding space of the inserter and stored in a storage container filled with storage fluid, e.g., saline, until use. To deliver the corneal implant, the inserter is positioned at the desired location, and the corneal implant released from the holding space of the inserter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for footcare, which comprises an abrasive body (1) and members for supporting the abrasive body (1) relatively a ground, the abrasive body (1) has an external surface, and the external surface is at least partly abrasive, whereby the portion of the external surface of the abrasive body (1) that is abrasive comprises a number of partial surfaces, and these partial surfaces comprises at least a concave surface (9, 12) and a convex surface (10, 15). A main surface (9), which at the position of the abrasive body (1) on the ground is faced upwardly, has two concave partial surfaces (A, B) angled against each other, whereby a first part-surface (A) has an angle in the range 15-45° in relation to the ground and a second partial surface (B) has an angle up to 15° in relation to the ground.

Abstract: A device for filtering emboli from blood flowing through a lumen defined by the walls of a vessel in a patient's body. The filter element is expandable from a collapsed configuration when the filter element is restrained to an expanded configuration when the filter element is unrestrained. The filter element includes a mesh including strands, each strand having a diameter. The mesh includes at least one radiopaque strand and at least one non-radiopaque strand, and wherein each strand has an index of wire stiffness EI, where EI is the mathematical product of the Young's modulus (E) and the second moment of area (I), and wherein the largest EI of a strand is no more than five times the smallest EI of a strand.

Abstract: A tamponade trocar includes an elongate balloon having a closed distal end and is adapted to expand from a small diameter to a large diameter. A cannula is positioned at a proximal portion within the balloon lumen. A rigid stylet is removably positioned within the balloon and cannula lumens. A distal end of the stylet supported balloon is inserted into a perforation in a body wall and advanced into a body cavity while the balloon is unexpanded. The balloon is expanded and the cannula is advanced to a distal portion of the balloon lumen and across the body wall. At this stage, the perforation is dilated and in compressive tamponade. The proximal portion of the balloon may be removed and a seal housing may be coupled to the proximal end of the cannula. The distal end of the balloon may be punctured and opened, making the trocar ready for use.

Abstract: Ultrasonic horns configured for use with a surgical ultrasonic handpiece including a resonator are described. The ultrasonic horns include an elongated member having a longitudinal internal channel extending therethrough. Disposed on the distal end of the elongated member is a tip lead configured for cutting and/or abrading hard tissue, for example bone. The tip lead includes an abrasive surface.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that may include a housing, a transducer engaged with the housing which can produce vibrations, and an end-effector engaged with the transducer. The surgical instrument can further include an adjustable sheath extending from the housing where the sheath is movable relative to the distal tip of the end-effector and where the distance between the distal tip of the sheath and the distal tip of the end-effector can be set such that the sheath can act as a depth stop. The sheath can be adjusted such that, when the distal tip of the sheath contacts the tissue or bone being incised, the surgeon can determine that the appropriate depth of the incision has been reached. In other embodiments, the end-effector can be moved with respect to the sheath in order to adjust the distance between the distal tip of the end-effector and the distal tip of the sheath.