Abstract: A tissue shredding device is provided which includes a shredding pipe which is inserted into a patient body in which a plurality of opening portions is formed in a longitudinal direction; and a plurality of wires which is withdrawn from the opening portion, bent back outside the shredding pipe, and drawn into the shredding pipe. Here, the tissue shredding device may be changed to one of a first arrangement in which the wires are withdrawn from the shredding pipe so that a tissue can be introduced toward top portions corresponding to bent-back parts of the plurality of wires, a second arrangement in which the top portions are arranged opposite to the shredding pipe, and a third arrangement in which the wires are drawn into the opening portion.

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: In one embodiment, a handheld microdermabrasion device includes a treatment head and a motor for driving, e.g., oscillating or rotating, the treatment head to abrade or exfoliate the skin. The treatment head may be abrasive or non-abrasive, and includes a passage or opening in communication with a reservoir for containing a topical solution. As the skin is abraded by the treatment head, the topical solution from the reservoir is automatically dispensed through the opening in the treatment head. In some embodiments, the motor which drives the treatment head also drives a pump for moving fluid from the reservoir and through the treatment head. The topical solution may be abrasive or non-abrasive. In some embodiments, the topical solution is a therapeutic solution for treating the skin.

Abstract: A rotational device for removing a stenotic lesion from within a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a flexible hollow drive shaft having a distal end insertable into the vessel and an abrasive element located on the drive shaft proximal to the distal end of the drive shaft to abrade a stenotic lesion when the drive shaft rotates. The hollow drive shaft defines a lumen for fluid supplied into the drive shaft to flow in an antegrade direction along the lumen and into the vessel from the drive shaft distal to the abrasive element so that the fluid entering the vessel flows in a retrograde direction over the abrasive element and die drive shaft to entrain debris abraded by the abrasive element for removal of said debris from the patient.

Abstract: A method for treating a body tissue comprises delivering a cutting mechanism of a surgical instrument into proximity to a target portion of the body tissue wherein the cutting mechanism includes a first member defining a lumen and a distal cutting tip. At least the first member is supported, via a coupler, by the handpiece. A fluid pathway extends from the distal cutting tip, through the lumen of the first member, and through an interior of the handpiece for fluid connection to a source of negative pressure. In one configuration, a coupler provides an internally-located aspiration control mechanism including a user interface port exteriorly exposed on the coupler and defining an aspiration control pathway extending from the user interface port to a proximal window of the inner member for communication with the lumen of the inner member.

Abstract: A surgical morcellator includes a trocar body portion and a handle portion detachably mounted to the trocar body portion. The trocar body portion is relatively lightweight and may be used separately from the handle portion with other laparoscopic instruments while morcellation is not required during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: Devices and methods for moving tissue and/or moving the devices relative to the tissue during a surgical procedure are disclosed. The devices and methods disclosed herein can be used in conventional, open surgical procedures, they are particularly useful in minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures. In one aspect, the movement or tissue and/or the device is effected by moving a fabric associated with the device and in contact with tissue.

Abstract: An anoscope for inspection and/or surgery is provided. The anoscope includes a tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween, where the tubular body includes at least one elongated slot. The anoscope also includes an insert removably attached to the at least one elongated slot in the tubular body. The insert including an elongated slot having a smaller width than the at least one elongated slot in the tubular body.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprises a tubular introducer member, an operative element, an elongate shifter connected at a distal end to the operative element, a handle, at least one stop component, and an override. The shifter and the operative element are movable relative to the tubular member, while the first part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the tubular member and the second part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the shifter. The stop component is disposed on the first part or second part to limit relative motion of the first part and the second part and concomitantly to stop travel of the operative element at a predetermined location relative to a distal end of the tubular member. The override enables a user to override or passivate the stop component and thereby permit travel of the operative element past the predetermined location.

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 partially therethrough. Disposed on the distal end of the elongated member is a chisel and awl shaped tip configured for cutting and/or abrading hard tissue, for example bone.

Abstract: A tongue cleaning device comprising a tongue cleaning surface supported for tongue cleaning by running the surface across the tongue, a reservoir for a tongue cleaning fluid, means to dispense the fluid either onto the tongue cleaning surface, or directly onto the user's tongue, with a cover part, the tongue cleaning surface and cover part being relatively moveable between a position in which the tongue cleaning surface is exposed for use and a position in which the tongue cleaning surface is covered by the cover part.

Abstract: The system and method creates immediate supplemental blood flow into an organ by punching a cannula into the organ to remove a core of the organ. The process of punching creates essentially no heat and therefore does not cauterize the wound. In the case of the heart this results in immediate supplemental blood flow into the heart muscle. Animal tests have shown this immediate blood flow is sufficient to sustain the heart even when a major coronary artery is completely blocked. The procedure may be performed in an open surgical field procedure by punching cores from the outside of the heart in or it may be a percutaneous catheter procedure punching cores from the inside-out of an organ.

Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar housing having a blunt distal end and a proximal end; a blade assembly having a sharp tip and being slideable within the trocar housing between and armed position wherein the sharp tip extends distally beyond the blunt distal end and a relaxed position wherein the sharp tip is withdrawn proximally relative to the armed position; and a trigger member positioned relative to the housing to contact tissue when tissue is cut with the blade assembly in the armed position, and slideable by contact with the tissue to a proximal position which exposes the sharp tip and actuates a lock release member, the trigger member having member having a spring member biasing the trigger member distally so that removal of contact with the tissue allows the spring to move the trigger member distally, and further wherein distal movement of the trigger member with the lock release member activated releases the blade assembly from the armed position and allows the blade assembly to move to the relax

Abstract: Medical device delivery systems and associated methods are provided. Delivery systems according to the invention include an elongated tubular member and a body member, such as a dilator, disposed therein. An intraluminal medical device is disposed on the dilator and within the tubular member prior to deployment. The delivery system includes a means for separating two or more portions of the distal end of the tubular member that aids in deploying the intraluminal medical device from the delivery system by separating two or more portions of the tubular member from each other to facilitate release of the intraluminal medical device from the body member. Various structures can be used for means for separating, including a cutting ring, activateable material on the tubular member, or other suitable structure. The provided devices and methods reduce friction occuring from relative movement between the sheath and dilator during deployment.

Abstract: A removable stent for placement within a lumen is provided. The stent includes a scaffolding of struts formed from a tube of memory material and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior region. The stent includes at least two flexible elements independently secured to the scaffolding and spaced circumferentially from one another. Each element defines an engageable member such that an inwardly directed force applied to the engageable members reduces a diameter of the scaffolding.

Abstract: Device and method for harvesting and implanting hair follicular units is provided. A combined harvesting and implanting tool or tool assembly provides a harvesting cannula portion detachably coupled to an implanting cannula portion. The harvesting and implanting cannula portions may be coupled by a connector that could be designed to allow for multiple uses of the tool assembly, or alternatively may be designed for single use and rendered non-functional when the implanting cannula portion of the tool is separated from the harvesting cannula portion of the tool.

Abstract: A puncture device is constituted such that a plunger (2) is provided with a lever (3) which is partially restricted in rotation, and a forward urging force is obtained by a contraction restorative force of a tension spring (4), and the tension spring (4) is again expanded with the lever (3) as a leverage when the plunger (2) further moves forward due to its inertia from a position where no urging force is not applied, and the plunger (2) is urged backward by a restorative force of the re-expansion. Further, a puncture needle cartridge is provided with a lancet body (203) having a puncture needle, and a puncture needle holder (201) in which the lancet body (203) is movably stored, and further, the lancet body (203) has an arm means (302) and the puncture needle holder (201) contains a to-be-latched means (303) that cooperates with the arm means (302).

Abstract: A bifurcated balloon for in vivo use, comprises: a proximal hollow tubular element, two bifurcating hollow tubular elements extending distally from a distal end of the proximal hollow tubular element, each of the two elements comprising: a first distal tubular element guidable into a first branch of a vessel bifurcation, and a second distal tubular element guidable into a second branch of the vessel bifurcation. The bifurcated balloon further comprises a longitudinal chamber extending from a distal end of the first distal tubular element, and a first substantially longitudinal guidewire channel passing through the longitudinal chamber, the first guidewire channel having two ends of which a first end passes through a proximal portion of the longitudinal chamber.

Abstract: An implant retrieval frame for advancement of a retrieval device to snare an implant is disclosed. The frame comprises a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a first handle end and a first pivot end. The second arm has a second handle end and a second pivot end. The second pivot end is connected to the first pivot end to define a pivot axis about which the first and second arm pivotally move. The frame further comprises a connector to which the retrieval device is attached. The connector is configured to cooperate with the first and second arms to translate pivotal movement of one of the first and second arms to linear movement of the retrieval device relative to the pivot point.

Abstract: An ophthalmologic cutting device having a base support section for attachment with a movement generating device and a tip with a blade section. The blade section preferably has upper and lower edges, and a forward aspiration free edge extending between them, with the upper edge having a shorter longitudinal length compared with the lower edge and where the forward edge slopes down from a distal end of the upper edge to a distal end of the lower edge, and the lower edge presenting a material contact surface that is thinner in thickness than the upper edge. A slope back in the proximal direction of the forward edge of, for example, 10 to 45 degrees with a straight and/or curving forward edge or a combination of a straight and forward edge sections is preferred.