Abstract: A guide (100) is provided for biopsy and microtherapy which includes an introducer cannula (120) defining a lumen (125) sized to receive a diagnostic or therapeutic item therethrough and a lateral opening (124) in communication with the lumen (125) adjacent the first end (121) of the cannula (120). The invention also includes a solid tip (130) having an anatomically distal end (131) secured to the first end (121) of the cannula (120) and a proximal end (132) configured to pierce tissue. A ramp (135) is disposed within the cannula (120) at an end (136) of the lateral opening (124) adjacent the first end (121) of the cannula (120). The ramp (135) is inclined toward the lateral opening (124), whereby the item will be deflected through the lateral opening (124) as it advances within the lumen (125) and exits the cannula (120). In some embodiments, the item is a biopsy needle, ablation means or a radiopharmaceutical seed.

Abstract: A method of enhancing injury-induced revascularization of a tissue as treatment of a disease, such as coronary artery disease, is described. The method involves (i) creating injury in a tissue (e.g., muscle, such as cardiac muscle) by, for example, use of a laser, an ultrasonic device, or a Thermal probe, and (ii) injecting into the tissue a revascularization-promoting molecule or a nucleic acid molecule encoding a revascularization-promoting molecules Also described is an apparatus that can be used to practice this method.

Abstract: In a method for treating cancer, a tube is inserted into a patient, so that a distal end of the tube is disposed proximately to a tumor. A sclerosing agent such as a concentrated sugar solution is then fed through the tube into the patient and into the tumor. The tube can take the form of a catheter which is introduced into the patient through the patient's vascular system.

Abstract: A refractive intraocular lens including an optic portion having an outer peripheral edge and two or more but preferably two balanced opposed looped haptic elements. Each looped haptic element is formed to have two broad connecting portions, two radial orientation portions, two spring portions and a linking portion for supporting the optic portion in a patient's eye. The two broad connecting portions of each looped haptic element is permanently connected to the outer peripheral edge of the optic portion. Each looped haptic element is likewise formed to have greater resistance to bending in a plane generally parallel to an eye's optical axis than in a plane generally perpendicular to the eye's optical axis. The intraocular lens is so designed to exhibit less than approximately 1.0 mm axial displacement or tilting of the optic portion along the eye's optical axis under a compression force suitable to effect a 1.0 mm in diameter compression in overall length of the intraocular lens.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating lymphedema in the limb of a patient as an outer sleeve configured to encircle the limb of the patient. A plurality of straps are secured in a lateral configuration on the sleeve to tighten the sleeve about the limb of the patient. Detachable markers are located on each of the straps adjacent a reference point on the straps to permit the straps to be tightened, loosened and then retightened to the same positions. The method for treating edema in the limb of a patient at a multiplicity of spaced apart locations comprises encircling the limb of a patient with an elongated sleeve having an elongated open seam and a plurality of spaced apart laterally extending releasable enclosable tightening straps. Strap are closed to secure the sleeve to the patient's limb. One of the straps is released, and a partially air-inflated pneumatic bladder is inserted through the seam underneath the released strap to position the bladder adjacent the patient's limb and the interior of the sleeve.

Abstract: A supplemental intraocular lens is provided for implantation in the eye to modify the lens system of the eye comprising the cornea and the natural lens or an intraocular lens already implanted in the eye, to create a modified lens system having teledioptic or other diffractive capabilities to correct for macular degeneration. To create the teledioptic lens system, the supplemental intraocular lens has substantially no refractive power except for a high minus lens portion at its center. The supplemental intraocular lens, when implanted on the natural or previously implanted artificial lens in the eye and used without an external lens, allows light rays entering the eye onto the retina of the eye as they would without the supplemental intraocular lens, thus providing unmagnified and peripherally unrestricted vision.

Abstract: Collars are disposed on loops of intraocular lenses for improved fixation of loops in rims of capsular bags of eyes. A collar may preferably be positioned on an outer portion of a loop and retained on the loop by an enlarged end portion of the loop.

Abstract: A method for suppression and prevention of the gag reflex, particularly during dental procedures, utilizing a non-invasive nerve stimulation device applied to the wrist.

Abstract: A refractive intraocular lens including an optic portion having an outer peripheral edge and two or more but preferably two balanced opposed looped haptic elements. Each looped haptic element is formed to have two broad connecting portions, two radial orientation portions, two spring portions and a linking portion for supporting the optic portion in a patient's eye. The two broad connecting portions of each looped haptic element is permanently connected to the outer peripheral edge of the optic portion. Each looped haptic element is likewise formed to have greater resistance to bending in a plane generally parallel to an eye's optical axis than in a plane generally perpendicular to the eye's optical axis. The intraocular lens is so designed to exhibit less than approximately 1.0 mm axial displacement or tilting of the optic portion along the eye's optical axis under a compression force suitable to effect a 1.0 mm in diameter compression in overall length of the intraocular lens.

Abstract: Posterior capsular opacification can be prevented by modulating focal contacts, which mediate adhesion between lens epithelial cells and the lens capsule, using a treating solution containing a focal contact-modulating substance or a proenzyme, such as Lys-plasminogen, which is introduced into the lens capsular bag during cataract surgery. To secure the passage of a treating solution between the lens epithelial cells, a calcium chelating agent, such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid CEDTA), is included in a treating solution. To limit the effect of the treating solution to lens epithelial cells prior to, during, and/or after capsulotomy, an inhibitor, such as &ohgr;-amino acid, can be introduced into the anterior chamber before the treating solution as a mixture with a viscoelastic material, such as sodium hyaluronate, or into the lens capsular bag without a viscoelastic material during capsulotomy.

Abstract: A blood flow path is formed from a heart chamber to a coronary vessel. The coronary vessel has a predetermined diameter. A hollow conduit is selected having a vessel portion and a myocardial portion. The vessel portion has an open leading end sized to be inserted into the coronary vessel. The myocardial portion has an open leading end and the myocardium portion is sized to extend through a thickness of the heart wall. The conduit is selected with the vessel portion sized to be inserted within the vessel without dilating the vessel to such a degree that the vessel is incapable of further dilation in response to blood flow in the vessel. The myocardial portion is placed in the heart wall with the open leading end of the myocardial portion protruding into the heart chamber. The leading end of the vessel portion is placed in the coronary vessel.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a positive power anterior chamber ocular implant for placement in a phakic eye to correct refractive errors caused by hyperopia which includes at least one convex surface and means for positioning the lens in the anterior chamber of an eye, wherein contact between the lens and other anatomic bodies such as the anatomical lens, the corneal endothelium and iris is avoided, and wherein the means for positioning avoids contact with the iris.

Abstract: Methods and materials for tissue reconstruction, repair, and/or augmentation are disclosed. The invention provides isolated bladder submucosa seeded with cells for use in tissue reconstruction. The methods of the invention include the use of isolated bladder submucosa seeded with cells for augmentation of bladder and other organs and tissues.

Abstract: Perfluorinated alkylcyclohexane and alkyl cyclopentane derivatives of the empirical formula C10F20 boil at atmospheric pressure in the range of 144-146° C. and are utilized as mediums for gas transport in liquid ventilation and in artificial blood. Compounds of the C10F20 formula which can exist only as a single stereoisomer are preferred as mediums for gas transport.

Abstract: A method of treatment of a patient diagnosed with atrial arrhythmia by forming a circumferential conduction block in a region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. The method includes either forming one such circumferential conduction block around one of the pulmonary vein ostia, forming multiple such circumferential conduction blocks around each one of the pulmonary vein ostia or in subset combinations thereof. The circumferential conduction block may also surround a pulmonary vein in order to bridge the adjacent ends of two linear lesions also extending along the left posterior atrial wall and between the pulmonary vein and another adjacent pulmonary vein in a less-invasive "maze"-type procedure. The circumferential conduction block may also be formed to intersect with another similar circumferential conduction block around an adjacent pulmonary vein ostium in a modified and improved version of the "maze"-type procedure.

Abstract: A method for increasing the amount of accommodation in an eye of a mammal which eye includes an artificial intraocular lens. The method provides for administering to the mammal the amount of a muscarinic agent necessary to restore tonic accommodation.

Abstract: An orthesis joint, in particular a knee joint for part of a leg, comprising a joint upper part (1) and a joint lower part (2), pivotably connected to the latter by means of a joint screw (3), as well as comprising a manually releasable wedge block (9, 10, 11, 12), the blocking wedge (9) of which, displaceably guided in the joint upper part (1), engages in its blocking position in an approximately radial direction--in relation to the joint screw (3)--into a blocking groove (10), provided on the joint lower part (2), and can be displaced out of this blocking position against the action of a spring (11) into an unlocking position, characterized in that the joint upper part (1) is divided in two in its plane perpendicular to the joint screw (3), into a basic body (4) and a cover (5) covering the latter at least partially, and in that the blocking wedge (9) is guided in mutually corresponding groove-shaped milled recesses (7, 8) in the mutually facing inner sides of the basic body (4) and cover (5).

Abstract: An intra-ocular lens can be implanted as a posterior chamber lens by way of its lens body in a capsule sack remaining in the eye after an extracapsular operation. An equatorial edge of the lens body has a surrounding concave profile which is open to the outside and is bounded by two profile edges. At least one of the profile edges acts as a mechanical barrier against fibrosis on the rear capsule.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for adjusting corneal curvature to correct the refractive error of an eye. The method comprises a first corrective event in which the corneal curvature is adjusted to correct the eye to 20/20 vision or slightly over-correct the eye past 20/20 vision. After the first corrective event, a second corrective event adjusts the corneal curvature to 20/20 vision. The second corrective event causes significantly less trauma to the eye, and thus, compared to the first corrective event, the error from healing and other factors is greatly reduced in this second corrective event. Devices for implementing these methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vibrational instrument which is therapeutically beneficial in treating the person suffering from afflictions such as headache, sinus congestion and pressure, and withdrawal due to drug dependency includes a member capable of transmitting vibrational waves through the teeth, jaw and sinus tissue for disposal between teeth of the person. A method of treatment is also provided.