Abstract: A non-radioactive metallic stent is coated with a biodegradable thin coating of less than about 100 microns in thickness selected to avoid provoking any foreign body reaction. The biodegradable material in the coating disintegrates over time in the presence of body fluid. The coating contains a radioactive source of, for example, a beta radiation emitter for irradiation of tissue when the stent is implanted in a blood vessel treated by angioplasty, to inhibit proliferation of smooth muscle cells in response to trauma to the wall of the blood vessel from the angioplasty, and thereby to prevent rapid tissue growth and consequent restenosis of the vessel. The stent coating incorporating the radioactive source constitutes a first layer adherent to and overlying the surface of the stent. The coating may further include a second layer atop the first layer, incorporating an anti-coagulant substance to inhibit thrombus formation on the stent.

Abstract: A jacket for placement over a heart to constrain congestive heart failure related expansion includes a biocompatible fabric formed into a pouch having a base end and an apical end with an interior of the pouch sized to receive a patient's heart. The base end has a peripheral edge defining a base opening sized to pass an apex of the heart through the base opening. The heart is slipped into the interior of the pouch with the apical end facing the apex of the heart and with the base end facing toward a base of the heart. At the base end, the fabric is folded over for the peripheral edge to have at least a double layer of the fabric. The double layer terminates at a free edge on an outer surface of the pouch and is spaced from the peripheral edge. In an additional embodiment, the fabric includes a side edge of opposing fabric surfaces extending from the apical end to the base end. The opposing fabric surfaces are joined by a stitch assembly.

Abstract: The calibrated method for characterizing blood flow in a limb of a patient during reactive hyperemia utilizes a blood pressure cuff. The method establishes a predetermined, near diastolic, pressure in said blood pressure cuff during the reactive hyperemic episode, continually senses the pressure in the cuff and periodically changes the internal volume of said blood pressure cuff by a predetermined volumetric amount to calibrate the system. The resultant change in the pressure is a calibration pressure pulse and is used to calculates pulsatile blood volume through the blood vessel. A calibrated method for determining the condition of blood vessels and endothelium includes determining, for each calibration cycle, a respective peak value for the blood volume and comparing the peak blood volume values with peak blood volume values for healthy blood vessels and endothelium. The comparison preferably utilizes a waveform.

Abstract: A self-piercing pulse oximeter sensor is provided for attachment to subject, e.g., an individual or an animal. The device includes a flexible pulse oximeter sensor, an earring post, and a grommet. The earring post may be used as a piercing device if there is not a pierced body part suitable for attaching the pulse oximeter sensor to the body. Otherwise the earring post may be slid into the pierced hole. In either case, the tip of the earring post engages a grommet once passing through the body part. Thus, the pulse oximeter sensor functions in a transilluminance mode by transmitting light through the pierced body part.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying magnetic and cold therapy to an affected body part includes a stretch type flexible sheath capable of being secured about an injured portion of tissue, one or more packets provided in the interior of the sheath, such packets being flexible within cold temperature ranges, and one or more magnets provided in the gel packet itself, or interior or exterior of the sheath, either by insertion or sewing the magnet into the sheath. According to another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for simultaneous applying magnetic and cold therapy to body parts features cold therapy gel packets and magnets that are separately insertable into pockets formed in a sheath for application to a body part. According to the method of the present invention, a magnetic field and cold compress are simultaneously applied to an injured body part. Additionally, the present invention discloses a gel packet for cold therapy enclosing permanent magnets for magnetic therapy.

Abstract: A radiation shield assembly (30) for a radioactive stent (11) which includes a first shield member (31) having a first mating surface (32) and a second shield member (33) having an opposed second mating surface (35). When the two shield members are removably coupled to one another, the first mating surface (32) cooperates with the opposing second mating surface (35) to substantially radially enclose the stent (11) therebetween, and substantially prevent the direct passage of radioisotopes emitted from the stent radially out of the shield assembly (30).

Abstract: An improved brachytherapy seed having (a) a casing for encapsulating a radioactive material, wherein a center portion of the casing has a diameter that is substantially larger than the diameter of two end portions of the casing, and/or (b) a carrier for the radioisotope, wherein the carrier has a polygonal cross section, and, optionally, one end of the carrier is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transducer for partially or fully implantable hearing aids for direct mechanical excitation of the middle or inner ear. The transducer is provided with a housing fixedly mounted at the implantation site and a coupling element moveable with respect to the housing for transmitting vibration to the middle ear ossicle or directly to the inner ear. The housing accommodates a piezoelectric element with which the coupling element can be vibrated and an electromagnet arrangement including an electromagnetic component, such as an electromagnetic coil, fixedly mounted relative to the housing and a vibratory component, such as a permanent magnet, mechanically connected to the coupling element such that the vibration of the vibratory component is transferred to the coupling element.

Abstract: A multi-chambered balloon formed from a single rectangular plastic sheet, with an inflated shape approximating a vagina with adjustable tightness and a seamless opening. Manufacturing steps are minimized and simplified to one cutting operation, one valve insertion, and three seams. This minimizes cost, allowing a sex aid that is disposable for maximum cleanliness.

Abstract: A marital aid containing an elongated shaft which is transparent, and which has a vibrating motor which vibrates the shaft and an internal source of illumination which shines through the transparent shaft.

Abstract: A radioisotope stent that is made radioactive for most of the stent's length at a center section of the stent, but is not radioactive for a limited length at each end section of the stent. Such a stent design would have a negligible radiation level at the extreme ends of the stent. Therefore, there will not be any portion of the dilated stenosis that has no mechanical support from the stent and is also exposed to a moderate level of radiation. Furthermore, all portions of the dilated stenosis that are exposed to a high or moderate level of radiation will be mechanically supported by the stent so as to preclude the phenomena of late vascular contraction. Thus it is an object of this invention to have a stent that is designed with a comparatively high level of radioactivity at a longitudinally central section of the stent and would be free of any radioactivity at each of the two end sections of the stent.

Abstract: An animal pill magnet having a casing, core pieces, and at least one magnet. The casing comprises a first capsule half and a second capsule half that are joined together with a single joint to enclose the core pieces and at least one magnet.

Abstract: An implantable brachytherapy device includes a biocompatible outer capsule containing a radiation shielding element and a radioactive isotope between the shielding element and the wall of the outer capsule. When the device is at body temperature, radiation is emitted by the isotope through the wall of the outer capsule. When a predetermined amount of energy is applied to the device, the shielding element is adapted to at least partially surround the isotope, and thereby at least partially prevent the transmission of radiation through the outer capsule.