Abstract: An irrigation system and method for providing fluid from a source of irrigating fluid to a surgical site, in particular a surgical site access to which is provided by a small incision or a natural orifice of the body. The irrigation system includes a control unit that is used with a cassette. The control unit includes a motor under the control of a controller, a sensor for sensing the flow of fluid in the cassette, a sensor for sensing pressure in the cassette, and a user control panel. The cassette includes a fluid flow passageway having an inlet connected to the source of irrigating fluid and an outlet for providing fluid to the surgical site. A pump located in the cassette is driven by the motor. The pump has limited efficiency when presented with back pressure to thereby limit to a safe level an amount of pressure that can be delivered to the surgical site. The system may be used to irrigate or distend a surgical site.

Abstract: A valve is provided for preventing backflow of bacteria and other unhealthy substances in a medical suctioning apparatus. The valve includes a chamber and a tubular member positionable in the chamber having one or more reversely lipped fins. The chamber and tubular member provide a tortuous path that effectively limits backflow of bacteria and other unhealthy substances. Various modifications of the valve are disclosed including two, three and four piece valves. The valves are configured to be positioned between a medical suctioning unit and a patient-contacting part such as ejectors, evacuators, and medical yankauers. The valve shapes facilitate manufacture, and can be made of disposable or autoclavable materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing tissue, such as cataractous lens tissue, using ultrasonic energy. The apparatus includes a working tip and a transducer or the like for applying ultrasonic vibrations to the working tip. A vacuum source is provided for aspirating fluid through the working tip. The working tip includes a relatively large diameter opening for admitting relatively large tissue fragments. The opening adjoins a bore portion of relatively large diameter. The working tip further includes a bore portion of relatively small diameter and large wall thickness for breaking the tissue fragments into smaller pieces.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) by means of a closed-loop drug delivery system that delivers an exercise simulating agent, including novel exercise simulating agents which elicit both acute and adaptive cardiovascular responses similar to those elicited by aerobic activity are provided. The acute responses to the exercise simulating agent are used to diagnose and evaluate CAD in lieu of the acute responses to aerobic exercise. Due to their adaptive responses these compounds may be used to treat CAD in lieu of the adaptive responses caused by aerobic exercise training or to treat other conditions where the adaptive responses caused by aerobic exercise are desirable.

Abstract: A perfusion catheter for insertion into a body conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (5) having at least two lumens for delivery of fluid inflation medias and an array (1) formed of a plurality of radially disposed inflatable balloons (3) disposed in a cylindrical array around the shaft (5), each of the balloons (3) sharing a common wall (3a) with adjacent balloons (3). The balloons (3) are inflated by an array (1) of channels (11) and separated from each other by a web (19). There is at least one opening (17) between two adjacent channels (11) to allow the flow of fluids into the array (1). An internal chamber (31) is formed inside the array (1) by the movement of a wall (30) over the axis of the catheter whereby to enable a substantial increase of inflation forces against the body conduit in which the catheter is disposed.

Abstract: The claimed invention provides an improved tracking tip for use with a work element in a catheter system having a flexible tubular catheter body. Use of a tracking tip according to the present invention will facilitate advancement of the work element within the catheter body and will substantially eliminate the possibility that the work element will puncture the catheter body. Preferred embodiments will comprise a wire coil and will often include a rounded end member, which may be in the form of a solder ball, at the distal tip of the wire coil. In some embodiments, the rounded end member may be coated with a lubricant or a suitable non-stick material to further improve tracking of the work element within the catheter body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a toposcopic dilatation catheter system utilizing a dilatation balloon in combination with an everting tube in a miniature catheter of a scale sufficiently small to negotiate a blood vessel for therapeutic as well as diagnostic purposes. The catheter system utilizes a primary catheter shaft provided with multiple lumen or passageways extending the length thereof. The dilatation balloon lumen provides access to a balloon carried at the distal end of the primary catheter shaft. The dilatation balloon may be expanded as required to aid in advancing the catheter system to the site requiring therapy. A secondary catheter tube is coaxially carried within the primary catheter shaft. The leading end of the secondary catheter tube includes an everting tube which everts from the leading end of the primary catheter shaft. The everting tube advances under fluid pressure in advance to the leading end of the primary catheter shaft.

Abstract: Intravenous catheter apparatus includes a housing surrounding a carrier movable from a first to a second position. An elongated needle, secured at one end to the carrier, extends from the carrier through an opening in the housing so the other end of the needle with a sharp point extends away from the housing when the carrier is in the first position. Means are provided for moving with one hand the carrier from the first to the second position to retract the needle into the housing until the sharp end of the needle clears the opening and moves into the housing. Means deflect the needle laterally when the needle clears the opening so the needle moves out of alignment with the opening to prevent the needle from being moved back into the opening. Preferably, the housing is formed of two elongated, substantially symmetrical halves secured together at one end by a living hinge for ease of manufacture and assembly.

Abstract: A medicine dispensing device including a slotted housing, a front end, a rear end, at least one threaded portion in the vicinity of the rear end, a dosage ampoule fitting in the vicinity of the front end and a discharge conduit for connection with a discharge ampoule. A hollow screw-threaded device receives the ampoule therein. The screw-threaded device is received by the rear end of the housing. The screw-threaded device includes an exterior surface provided with a threaded surface engaging the at least one threaded portion for securing the ampoule within the housing. A medicine discharge and metering device for metering and discharging the contents of the ampoule is received within the screw-threaded device and is movable in a direction of a longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: Torquable tubular assembly comprising first and second tubular members with the second tubular member being disposed within the first tubular member along a longitudinal axis. Each of the first and second tubular members has a cylindrical wall with a plurality of slots formed therein spaced-apart, longitudinally of the cylindrical wall and along the longitudinal axis. Each of the slots subtends less than 360.degree.. Each of the slots have a first portion with a width which extends generally circumferentially of the cylindrical wall and a second portion which extends generally longitudinally of the cylindrical wall beyond the width of the first portion. Each of the first and second tubular members has a distal extremity and portions proximal of the distal extremity and means fastening together the distal extremities of the first and second tubular members while permitting other portions of the first and second tubular members to move with respect to each other during bending of the distal extremity.

Abstract: Dilatation balloons and catheters including same are provided. The balloons are fabricated of a material such as a nylon or a polyamide material, and they have an inflated, non-distended working profile as well as a stretched inflated profile which is achieved by applying pressure through a dilatation catheter or the like that is in excess of that needed to achieve the inflated, non-distended profile and which is adequate to effect dilatation or the like up to a maximum pre-bursting pressure application. The maximum pre-bursting size of the balloon can be tailored depending upon the needs of the particular balloon within a wide range of possible maximum pre-bursting sizes.