Abstract: An angled tissue cutting instrument comprises an angled outer tubular member rotatably receiving a flexible inner tubular member. The inner member has a flexible region in correspondence with an angle of the outer member. The flexible region comprises a helically cut length portion of an elongate tubular body of the inner member and a continuous solid flexible surface secured to an outer surface of the body along the helically cut length portion. A method of fabricating a flexible inner tubular member involves forming a helical cut through the solid wall of a length portion of a tubular body and securing a continuous solid flexible surface to the outer surface of the body along the helically cut length portion to form a flexible region.

Abstract: A suture anchoring device is made from a coiled member having a helical configuration with a multiplicity of turns. When used in connection with a surgical procedure, the device is positioned adjacent to a wound site and a suture is attached to at least two of the turns so as to anchor the suture to the coiled member.

Abstract: A pull-locking rotational action needle driver that comprises an ergonomically designed handle and an integrated locking system that permits left and right handed surgeons to perform the surgical suturing procedure in a less complicated and more secure way by allowing more control over the suturing needle and the area to be stitched, even when the suturing area is small, deep, and/or restricted.

Abstract: Tool arrays for biomedical surgery where the tools consist of layered polymer micromuscles arranged to induce geometrical changes and movements via an electrochemically induced change of volume in at least one polymer layer. The tool or tool arrays are mounted on a carrier having the form of a needle being inserted into a cannula/catheter through which the tools can be electrically actuated via external means to induce a mechanical movement to act upon biological structures.

Abstract: A distal protection device comprising a catheter having a first strut movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration having a first dimension and a second strut movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration having a second dimension larger than the first dimension. Movement of the first strut deploys filter material to a first position having a first deployed dimension and movement of the second strut to a first position deploys filter material to a second deployed dimension larger than the first expanded dimension.

Abstract: An anchoring device for incorporation into an endoluminal prosthesis to prevent migration thereof in a reliable way without the problems associated with intraluminal delivery of the prosthesis. The anchoring device allows smooth, efficient delivery of the prosthesis by providing an anchoring system that does not engage the delivery catheter or sheath upon deployment of the prosthesis within a body lumen.

Abstract: A self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) served by a source of breathing gas with a mask and a demand regulator connected to the mask. The regulator has a flexible diaphragmatic member having a side exposed to pressure differentials to cause a valve mechanism to introduce breathing gas to the mask. An expanding and contracting member and a chamber fluidically connected to the diaphragm compensates for movement of the diaphragm while shielding the diaphragm from ambient contaminants.

Abstract: A system for placing an implant in the body includes an elongated member having at least one inner lumen extending from a proximal end portion of the member to an opening in a distal end portion of the member. At least one compressible implant is in the inner lumen of the member. The implant optionally includes anchor members projecting from its outer surface to limit migration of the implant in the body. Structure is provided to push the implant through the opening in the distal end portion of the member. The implant is placed between layers of body tissue to bulk the tissue. In one of the disclosed methods, the system is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by placing the implant between layers of body tissue at or near the gastro-esophageal junction.

Abstract: A surgical clip having a sliding state and a crimped state is adapted for use in a surgical procedure initially to slide along suture ends to an operative position and ultimately to crimp the suture ends at the operative position. a sub straight, bendable between the sliding state and the crimped state carries at least one coating having either lubricious or traction enhancing properties. A second coating can be added to form a coating laminate with the outer coating having lubricious properties facilitating the sliding state and the inner coating having traction enhancing properties facilitating thee crimped state.

Abstract: The device is formed from a multi-stranded micro-cable having a plurality of flexible strands of a shape memory material and at least one radiopaque strand. The strands can be made of a shape memory nickel titanium alloy, that is highly flexible at a temperature appropriate for introduction into the body via a catheter, and that after placement will take on the therapeutic shape. The radiopaque strand can have a core strand with a plurality of intermittently spaced apart enlarged radiopaque portions that may be a plurality of beads of radiopaque material spaced apart and mounted on the core strand, or a plurality of coils intermittently wound about and spaced apart on the core strand. A polyhedral occlusive device is also provided, adapted to be inserted into a portion of a vasculature for occluding a portion of the vasculature, for use in interventional therapy and vascular surgery.

Abstract: Wire-guided interventional devices and methods are provided which enable faster and easier catheter exchanges. The interventional devices include a catheter shaft and a guidewire tube wherein the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube each have a length sufficient to extend to the vascular penetration when the interventional device is positioned at the treatment site. In some embodiments, a collar is disposed around the catheter shaft and guidewire tube that automatically inserts or removes the guidewire from the guidewire tube or automatically collapses or extends the guidewire tube as the catheter is introduced or withdrawn.

Abstract: An automatic safe disposable blood sampling device includes a casing with a launching chamber formed therein. The launching chamber has a lancet needle-exiting hole at a front end thereof; a lancet needle arranged inside the launching chamber; a spring; a launching mechanism composed of the spring and a catch-launching mechanism; a press-launching mechanism provided on the casing; and a self-locking mechanism composed of barbs provided on the press-launching mechanism and self-locking hooks or notches provided on the casing which engage corresponding barbs. When pressed, the press-launching mechanism triggers the catch-launching mechanism, to disengage the lancet needle from the casing. The spring pushes the lancet needle so as to launch the lancet needle. During forward movement of the press-launching mechanism, the barbs pass across the self-locking hooks or notches. In the process of retraction, the barbs are locked with the self-locking hooks or notches and cannot return to their initial states.

Abstract: Devices and methods for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in hollow body vessels such as the small and large intestines, arteries and veins as well as ducts leading to the gall bladder and other organs. The devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery or military setting, and most especially during damage control procedures. In such cases, the patient may have received trauma to the abdomen, extremities, neck or thoracic region. The devices utilize removable or permanently implanted, broad, soft, parallel jaw clips with minimal projections to maintain vessel contents without damage to the tissue comprising the vessel. These clips are applied using either standard instruments or custom devices that are subsequently removed leaving the clips implanted, on a temporary or permanent basis, to provide for hemostasis or leakage prevention, or both. These clips overcome the limitations of clips and sutures that are currently used for the same purposes.

Abstract: A medicament container configured to improve entrainment of the medicament in the air and to improve deposition of the medicament in the lungs includes an upper layer and a bottom layer with medicament disposed therebetween. The upper layer is punctured to provide first and second openings to allow airflow to enter and exit through the upper layer of the medicament container. In a preferred embodiment, the medicament container has a projection which forms an elbow-shaped medicament containment/flow channel between the upper layer and the lower layer. The medicament container is preferably used in a housing which selectively controls airflow through the medicament container and the housing to improve deep lung deposition of the medicament.

Abstract: An intervertebral distraction tool has a clamshell head with upper and lower halves, each having a curvate outer surface and a flat inner surface. The distal side of the head is hinged so that the head opens and closes from the proximal side of the head. The hinge is a separating hinge that allows the halves to not only angulate with respect to one another about the hinge axis, but also to vertically separate from one another at the hinge. A distraction separator has decreasing taper at its distal end and a longitudinal bore that accommodates the elongate shaft of the trial so that the separator can be moved longitudinally relative to the shaft. Upon forward movement of the separator, the tapered upper and lower surfaces engage the flat inner surfaces of the head, causing the halves to angulate about the hinge axis of the head, thereby opening the head.

Abstract: The present invention provides balloon dissection apparatus and methods of use in which an elongate balloon is utilized to dissect along a region that follows a naturally existing path alongside a vessel or structure, such as an artery, a vein, a lymphatic vessel, the traches, the esophagus, or even a nerve bundle.

Abstract: A stent introducer apparatus includes a handle with a proximal end and a distal end and having a portion that is coaxially slidable from the distal end to the proximal end and vice versa. A catheter having a proximal end and a distal end is provided with a pair of open end slits each of which defines a tab that is connected to the slidable portion of the handle. A guide wire is disposed within the catheter and has a proximal end and a distal end such that when the slidable portion of the handle is moved from the distal end to the proximal end, the distal end of the guide wire is exposed. The guide wire has a stent carrying portion at its distal end to carry a stent that is deployed when the distal end of the guide wire is exposed.

Abstract: A radially expandable knotless tissue anchor including an expandable outer member defining a bore and an inner member slidably positioned within the bore. Relative longitudinal movement of the inner member relative to the expandable member causes a portion of the expandable member to expand radially outwardly. The tissue anchor further includes a length of suture material having a first end affixed to a distal end of the inner member and a second end preferably affixed to a suturing needle. A transverse bore is provided adjacent the distal end of the inner member. There is also disclosed a method of knotlessly anchoring a section of tissue to a section of bone having a bore drilled therethrough.

Abstract: A tissue-piercing device includes two piercing members, and an operation section to which a proximal end of each of the piercing members is connected. Each of the piercing members includes a flexible outer sheath, a slidable inner sheath which is slidably inserted in the outer sheath, and a slidable needle which is inserted in the inner sheath. A switch portion is provided for switching between an operation mode in which a piercing action by the two piercing members is performed in a single operation, and an operation mode in which piercing actions by the two piercing members are performed in respective separate operations. The switch portion includes a sheath-coupling member to couple and decouple the two slidable inner sheaths. The switch portion may include a needle-coupling member to couple and decouple the two slidable needles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a decompression-compensating instrument for use in intraocular surgery, wherein a perfusate is supplied to an affected part of an eye via a supply channel at a predetermined pressure, and the perfusate is aspirated via an aspiration channel together with the affected tissues that are to be removed, the decompression-compensating instrument supplying the perfusate into the affected part when the internal pressure of the affected part is excessively lowered, and being constructed so as to be connectable to a point midway along the supply channel and comprising a storage-member that forms a chamber that is closable except for an opening from which the perfusate to be supplied to the supply channel flows, the capacity of the storage member being 7 cm3 to 22 cm3.