Abstract: This is a micro-vaso-occlusive device intended generally for occlusion of small arteries located distally in the vasculature. The invention is made up of a binder portion, often radio-opaque, which is short in length in comparison to the length of the included thrombogenic fibers. The fibers from the other portion of the device. The micro device may have multiple binder sections. The fibers may be straight, looped, or tufted.

Abstract: A surgical instrument provides improved precision and performance for use in highly intricate surgeries such as vitrectomy which frequently involves removing dense vitreous base firmly adherent to the retinal surface. The instrument includes two concentric tubes, an outer tube having ports near the closed end, and a slidable inner tube which fits snugly inside the outer tube. The inner tube includes a sharp cutting edge formed on one end that slides back and forth across the ports to cut vitreous, and an axial passage to pass the cut portions of vitreous. Such a surgical instrument maintains highly effective and accurate cutting member for removing vitreous without cutting into the retina.

Abstract: A ring blade and drive system, and method of using same, for harvesting bone-tendon-bone ligament grafts having substantially cylindrical bone plugs. The ring blade disclosed is a circular ring having a predetermined arcuate gap formed in its periphery. The drive system includes a blade holder to peripherally hold the ring blade and a fixed-center oscillating mechanism to oscillate the ring blade about its axis within a predetermined arcuate range of motion. The ring blade structure enables the production of a substantially cylindrical bone plug of unlimited length. Harvesting of a bone-tendon-bone ligament graft is facilitated with the ring blade and method disclosed which enables the ring blade to be placed partially around a tendon segment to create bone plugs aligned with the tendon fibers included in the defined tendon segment. The cuts into the bone may be initiated into the bone at either end of the tendon segment from the tendon side through to the exterior of the bone to which the tendon is attached.

Abstract: Handpiece apparatus is provided for disruption and removal of tissue, tumors, bone, cartilage, calculi or the like which includes an arrangement of piezoelectric crystals and a heat sink in order to control crystal temperature despite interruption of cooling irrigation flow through the handpiece.

Abstract: A side-cutting atherectomy catheter with a housing containing a tissue-removal means, a window on one side, and a large volume inflatable support on the opposite side. The large volume inflatable support has a maximum diameter larger than the diameter of the cutter housing, generating a greater degree of contact with a blood vessel's interior diameter than conventional balloon-housing configurations. This feature stabilizes the cutter housing and improves tissue-removal during the atherectomy procedure. Large volume inflatable supports have a maximum inflated diameter at least 1.1 times, and preferably 1.35 times, greater than the diameter of the housing. The supports may be formed from either elastic or inelastic materials. When formed from inelastic materials, the supports have slack material when uninflated which can extend into and become entangled with the cutter window. To prevent this problem, the large volume inflatable support is constrained when uninflated.

Abstract: An ultrasonically driven phaco tip and an interocular procedure for emulsifying a lense of an eye. The tip includes a flat distal end which has a pair of adjacent shoulders. The flat end creates a more efficient cutting surface. The shoulders provide a relatively large surface area that focuses ultrasonic pressure waves into the bubbles of an irrigation fluid that surrounds the tip. The focused pressure waves induce cavitation within the fluid and emulsification of the lense tissue. A lense may be emulsified by inserting the phaco tip into the anterior chamber of an eye and sculpting a bowl in the center of the lense. The tip is then rotated to a vertical position and used to cut a groove in the lense. The groove may be widen by another pass of the phaco tip so that the tip and a splitting instrument can be inserted into the widen groove. The tip and instrument are then pulled in opposite directions to crack the lense.

Abstract: An impact tool useful for performing a number of different surgical and industrial functions is provided. The invented tool can perform such surgical functions as freeing cement, implanting pins, and setting guides and industrial functions such as installing various fasteners. The tool comprises a body having a quick disconnect assembly coupled to a second end for quickly attaching and detaching different desired surgical and industrial implements to the tool. The quick disconnect assembly communicates with an impact inducing assembly is retained in a channel in the body. The impact inducing assembly causes an implement retained in the quick disconnect assembly to deliver an impact with a calibrated force to a desired object. The orientation of the components of the impact inducing assembly can be inverted so that the tool is actuated to apply an instantaneous extraction force to the desired fastener or surgical aid.

Abstract: A multifunctional spring clip for use in endoscopic and open operative procedures includes a body having opposed portions and a base connecting the opposed portions. Each opposed portion includes an outer segment and an inner segment connected to the outer segment and carrying a grasping surface. The clip is normally disposed in a grasping position wherein the grasping surfaces are biased toward one another, is movable from the grasping position to a receiving position wherein the grasping surfaces are moved away from one another to receive a structure therebetween and is movable from the receiving position toward the grasping position due to the bias to grasp the structure between the grasping surfaces. An applicator for the multifunctional spring clip includes a distal end carrying forceps for engaging the opposed portions of the clip.

Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon is prevented from applying excessive pressure to the outer cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of all the bone marrow. The balloon is able to be folded so that it can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. It can also be coated with therapeutic substances.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall. The apparatus provides a broad lifting surface that is capable of applying a lifting force of at least 40 pounds (180 Newtons) to an area of a body wall sufficiently extensive to reduce the lifting pressure exerted on the body wall to well below that which could cause pressure trauma to the body wall, yet delivers this broad lifting surface through the body wall via an incision about 14 mm long. The apparatus comprises a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state. In the inflated state, the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole. The body wall engaging element includes an equatorial portion facing into the central hole.

Abstract: A cutting instrument for severing a thin layer of corneal tissue from the surface of the eye, preferably leaving a flap. The cutting instrument includes a body portion that forces the surface of the eye against an applanating surface through a vacuum. A blade with a cutting edge not perpendicular to the direction of travel is then urged across the surface of the eye, severing a thin layer of corneal tissue. The blade can then be retracted, the instrument removed, leaving a flap of corneal tissue suitable for surgical procedures to modify corneal curvature.

Abstract: A device and method for applying a fibrinogen-based tissue sealant to seamlessly connect human or animal tissues or organ parts, to seal wounds, stop bleeding and the like by mixing fibrin or fibrinogen with blood clot-promoting coagulation factors are disclosed. The device includes two cylindrical compartments for separately containing the separate fluid components of the sealant preparation, which are simultaneously displaced from the respective compartments by means of plungers commonly depressable with the same effective strokes. The plungers may be depressed directly or by means of a common mechanism (e.g., rack and pinion) for accurately controlling the rate of dispensing fluid. The cylindrical compartments are of the same or different cross-sectional area and are arranged either concentrically or side-by-side. The device further includes a means for merging the two fluid components within an outer sleeve housing an inner needle.

Abstract: A new and improved oral appliance for infants and toddlers is disclosed. The appliance comprises an outer shield, an inner shield, a connector element and a nipple element. The outer shield is supported on the connector element and, in use, rests against the outside of the cheeks. The inner shield is also supported on the connector element so that it is spaced from the outer shield a distance such that an infants cheeks and lips are easily received therebetween. The inner shield is adapted to be positioned between an infant's gums and cheeks and is configured to prevent the cheeks, during sucking, from collapsing and exerting undesirable pressure on the maxilla. The nipple element is shorter than nipple elements in conventional pacifiers and is substantially flattened to provide better tongue positioning and to resist undesirable tongue thrusting.

Abstract: A stent for placement in a body tube includes a flexible support structure which is embedded in a hollow cylindrical casing of a synthetic material which at least at body temperature has limited elasticity. The support structure of the stent is composed of at least two zigzag-shaped wires which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing of the stent and which are offset relative to each other on the circumference of the casing, wherein each wire has at least three legs and the middle leg includes an acute angle with each of the two adjoining legs.

Abstract: The tool of the present invention comprises a stem. Cutting teeth extend outward from the stem. The stem has a central, longitudinal passage, connects to a suction or evacuation line. An outlet of the passage is at or near the cutting site. As material is cut, the suction carries the material to the central passage where it is evacuated. In one embodiment, each tooth has a cutting edge and a back side. One or more tubes connect the central passage to the back side of the cutting teeth. Suction from the central passage acts on the tubes to create suction at the cutting site. In another embodiment, the central passage is open at the distal end of the tool. Suction at the distal end cut material toward the distal end of the tool and into the central passage where it is evacuated from the tool.

Abstract: The invention is directed to manipulator assembly (2) for holding and manipulating a surgical instrument (14) in a telerobotic system. The assembly comprises a base (6) by fixable by means of passive or power driven positioning devices to a surface, such as an operating table, and an instrument holder (4) movably mounted on the base. The instrument holder comprises a chassis (6) and an instrument support (70) movably mounted on the body and having an interface engageable with the surgical instrument to releasably mount the instrument to the instrument holder. A drive assembly (7) is operatively coupled to the instrument holder for providing the instrument with at least two degrees of freedom. The instrument holder is separable from the base and the drive assembly so that the holder can be sterilized. The assembly further includes a force sensing element (52) mounted distal to the holder and the drive assembly for detecting forces exerted on the surgical instrument and providing feedback to the surgeon.

Abstract: A skin pinching device has two jaws (10) that may be moved against each other by threaded spindle (36). Hooks (18) that may be stuck into the skin are arranged on the jaws (10, 12). The hooks (18) are cast into plastic parts (14) mounted on the jaws (10, 12) in an exchangeable manner. The threaded spindle (36) may be motor-driven in a controlled manner depending on the characteristics of the tissues as determined by a sensor.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in an appliance or a prosthesis and a delivery catheter for use in a vein for minimally invasive treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. The system and method of the invention eliminate the need for open surgical valve repair procedures, obviate the need for arm vein transplantation into the leg, and allow patients to return to their former active lifestyles without the limitations currently associated with the treatment of this condition. An incompetent valve to be repaired is identified by injected contrast through the delivery catheter or similar means and the catheter is positioned at that valve, a clip appliance or similar prosthesis is deployed from the catheter and affixed to the valve. Next, the delivery catheter is repositioned and appliances or prostheses are deployed on sequentially lower valves until all desired valves are repaired and functionally competent.

Abstract: The stabilizing device can be adapted to an anchor such as a hook (1) of the usual shape, with a hook body (4) and an incurved lug (7). The device including a stabilizing staple fastener (3) having a body (21) and staple legs (22-25). Said fastener body (21) is adapted so that the securing member secure the hook (1) to an attachment rod (52) also attach the fastener (3) to the hook (1), by forcing back the legs (22-25) in the direction of the incurved lug (7) so as to pierce a portion of the vertebra located in the hollow of the hook (1). The hook (1) is thereby effectively stabilized on the vertebra.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for releasably holding a surgical instrument (14), such as an endoscopic instrument configured for delivery through a small percutaneous penetration in a patient. The instrument comprises an elongate shaft (100) with a pair of mounting pins (116) laterally extending from the shaft between its proximal and distal ends. An instrument holder comprises a support having a central bore (202) and an axially extending slot (204) for receiving the instrument shaft and the mounting pins. A pair of locking slots (206) are cut into the support transversely to and in communication with the axial slot so that the mounting pins can be rotated within the locking slots. The instrument support further includes a latch assembly for automatically locking the mounting pins within the locking slots to releasably couple the instrument to the instrument holder.