Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a suture anchor is provided that includes one or more bone-engaging surfaces features and an external sidewall. The external sidewall can allow a suture coupled to the suture anchor and located between the anchor and bone to be movable relative to the suture anchor, even when the suture anchor is partially or fully disposed within a bone hole. Suture threaders and suture anchor drivers are also provided that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.

Abstract: A respiratory treatment apparatus implements pressure delivery control settings by improved set-up procedures. In such an embodiment, a processor may automate setting of parameters for delivering a controlled flow of breathable gas. Data sets of pressure delivery parameter settings may be associated with one or more respiratory pathology indicators. The respiratory pathology indicators may each represent a different respiratory condition diagnosis. The processor may then prompt for an input of at least one of the respiratory pathology indicators. In response to the input, a particular set of pressure delivery parameter settings associated with the input respiratory pathology indicator may then serve as a basis for setting controls for delivering a controlled flow of breathable gas for respiratory treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved filter connection system for a gas mask, comprising: a filter, a mounting means that attaches the filter to the gas mask, and a retainer means to hold the filter within the mounting means. The mounting means includes a protruding means; a valving assembly in communication with the protruding means, wherein the valving assembly enables air to flow from the fitter to the mask when the retainer means retains the protruding means, and disables air flow from the filter to the mask when the protruding means disengages from the retainer means; and a sealing means located within or adjacent to the valving assembly to prevent air from outside of the filter from entering the mounting means.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting does of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth defining a root circle and a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes an actuator shaft mounted for linear movement in response to the dispensing of a dose of medicament. In use, the travel of the driver along the root circle of the gear wheel exceeds the corresponding linear movement of the actuator shaft.

Abstract: Barbed surgical sutures are prepared with a bioactive agent thereon. In embodiments, the bioactive agent may be an antimicrobial or clotting agent deposited within the angle formed by the barb and the suture body. Placement of the bioactive agent in the angle between the barb and suture body enhances the delivery of the bioactive agent to wound tissue at the point of contact.

Abstract: The invention includes a needle loader that may be used with a suturing device. The needle loader includes a generally planar needle supporting surface, a hub configured and adapted for receiving a generally toroidally shaped suturing needle around the hub, and means for retaining a suturing needle in a fixed toroidal rotational position with respect to the hub about a center axis of needle rotation. Generally, a needle mounted around the hub is selectively disposable on and removable from the hub. In accordance with a further aspect, the loader may further include an opening for retaining suture material attached to a suturing needle. The opening may include a groove defined through the needle supporting surface. The needle loader may further include a guard for preventing access to the point of a suturing needle to protect the needle and/or to prevent accidental needle sticks.

Abstract: A stent graft is disclosed and can include a stent and a graft engaged with the stent. The graft can include an inner surface and an outer surface. Further, at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface can include a plurality of protrusions as viewed in cross section extending through a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Pulmonary ventilator methods and systems are provided winch include a housing having a user interface control panel; a pneumatic circuit for delivering a high frequency pressure wave from the housing to a patient lung; a variable volume disposed within the housing including a stationary plate secured to the housing and a reciprocating plate pivotably mounted with respect to the stationary plate; and a magnet assembly disposed within the housing and configured to pivot the reciprocating plate. The variable volume may also include a resiliently contractible section extending between and joining a portion of the stationary plate and a portion of the reciprocating plate, wherein the resiliently contractible section may be in the form of a bellows and/or a pleated material.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient for the treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) that is less obtrusive includes a nasal cannula, cannulae (2a, 2b), prongs, or pillows and may be sealed or unsealed with the nares of the patient in use. The cannula, pillows or prongs may be positioned on the face of the patient by a headgear (6). The cannula, pillows or prongs may be smaller, lighter, and/or less visible than other nasal cannula, cannulae, pillows or prongs and may therefore be less obtrusive to the patient.

Abstract: A medical implement for transport of a suture shuttle, comprising a handle including a proximal portion configured for manual gripping by a user, a distal portion, an internal passageway for a suture shuttle, extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the handle; an intermediate portion formed with a thumb depression facing a first direction; the proximal portion comprising a slot extending from the internal passageway to a lateral face of the handle for enabling side-loading of a suture shuttle into a proximal portion of the internal passageway, the slot facing a second direction; the slot extending longitudinally from a proximal end of the handle to an intersection with the thumb depression, wherein at the intersection the slot is exposed in the first direction, and a roller rotatably mounted at the thumb depression.

Abstract: A system for delivery of aerosol therapy to spontaneously breathing patients comprises a housing which defines a chamber. The housing has a base, a top and a main body extending between the base and the top. An ambient air inlet is located adjacent to the base and is normally closed by an inlet valve. The housing also has a patient port for receiving a mouthpiece or a face mask. The mouthpiece has an exhaust outlet closed by an exhaust valve. Similarly, the face mask has an exhaust outlet closed by an exhaust valve. Exhaled air is exhausted through the valves and to prevent recirculation through the chamber which would adversely affect dose efficiencies. The housing also has an aerosol port for receiving a vibrating mesh aerosol generating device. The aerosol port is located in a side of the main body of the housing for delivery of aerosol into the chamber between the inlet valve and the patient port.

Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a seal and a flow diverter. The flow diverter is disposed adjacent the seal to direct a secondary gas flow that passes across the seal away from a rotor cavity such that the secondary gas flow travels back toward a main gas flow path of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A protective breathing mask assembly comprises a face mask portion 10 having a brow support 5 at the top thereof which, in use, extends around the brow of the wearer, and a face seal 6 which extends around the back edge of the mask portion 10 so as, in use, to engage around the sides of the wearer's face to prevent the ingress of material into the mask portion. The mask assembly further includes a rear of head strap 4 which extends between the ends of the brow support 5, in use, around the back of the wearer's head. A crown strap 2 is connected to opposing sides of the mask assembly so as, in use, to extend across the top of the wearer's head in opposing relation to the face seal 6, thereby pulling the face seal up against the wearer's face.

Abstract: A distal protection device provided with a filter basket having a self-expanding radial loop designed to position the filter basket within human vasculature and to hold the filter basket open during deployment.

Abstract: A respiration system is provided with a container (1) in which, by an exothermic chemical reaction of a reaction material, CO2 is removed from the respiration air or oxygen is generated, and with an indicator of the consumption of the reaction material. The consumption indicator has a predetermined amount (7) of material which can be melted by the reaction heat of the exothermic chemical reaction. The material is kept in thermal contact with the container interior in such a manner that a measurement of the total reaction heat, and thus the consumption of reactive material, can be read from the degree of melting of the meltable material.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods for treating tissue by applying a force to the tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a deployable segment having proximal and distal regions, a main body extending therebetween, and a loop member formed at the distal region of the deployable segment. A cannula having a bore is dimensioned to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the main body at a location proximal to the loop member, and a spring member is disposed between the cannula and the loop member. The proximal end of the spring member is affixed to the cannula, and the distal end of the spring member is movable to apply a compressive force to adjust the size of the opening of the loop member and compress tissue disposed within the opening of the loop member. In an alternative embodiment, the cannula is omitted, and a diameter of the loop member is configured to be reduced and increased any number of times before final deployment of the deployable segment.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods for treating tissue by applying a force to the tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a deployable segment having proximal and distal regions, a main body extending therebetween, and a loop member formed at the distal region of the deployable segment. A cannula having a bore is dimensioned to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the main body at a location proximal to the loop member, and a spring member is disposed between the cannula and the loop member. The proximal end of the spring member is affixed to the cannula, and the distal end of the spring member is movable to apply a compressive force to adjust the size of the opening of the loop member and compress tissue disposed within the opening of the loop member. In an alternative embodiment, the cannula is omitted, and a diameter of the loop member is configured to be reduced and increased any number of times before final deployment of the deployable segment.

Abstract: A nebulizer is proposed as depicted in exemplary FIG. 7 which comprises a replaceable container, a counting device and a lock for locking the nebulizer against further use. The container is provided with an electronic storage which is electrically connected to the counting device. The nebulizer comprises an electric drive for actuating the lock. This allows secure operation and/or simple handling of the nebulizer.

Abstract: An elongated flexible conduit (4) includes an flow element (24) having a first elongated wall segment (32) and a second elongated wall segment (44) that are connected together at their sides to form a wall (28) that is continuous in a circumferential direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation (8). The flow element is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration (68), with the first configuration being an expanded configuration, and with the second configuration being a collapsed configuration. The flow element can be moved from its expanded configuration to its collapsed configuration, such as for purposes of packing during traveling, and can then be moved from its collapsed configuration back to its expanded configuration in any of a variety of fashions in order to return the flow element to a condition in which it can carry a flow of breathing gas from a CPAP machine (12) to a CPAP mask (16).