Abstract: A medical device comprising a catheter and a balloon-expandable stent having a small initial diameter, flexibility along its longitudinal axis prior to expansion, a large expanded diameter, and rigidity after expansion. Local strain on the stent material is minimized, as and after the balloon is inflated. More particularly, the sent has rotation joints having minimal strain during stent expansion. The stent is substantially the same length before and after expansion and, being flexible longitudinally when constrained, is easy to deliver.

Abstract: A system and method for removing impacted cerumen from within a person's auditory canal. The system includes a hand held instrument that is held against the ear, and a base that creates a negative pressure in the hand held instrument when it is not in use. The hand held instrument contains an auditory canal plug that seals over the auditory canal when manually biased against the auditory canal. The plug contains an aperture that leads to a vacuum chamber within the hand held instrument. The flow of air through the auditory canal plug and into the vacuum chamber is controlled by a manually operated flow control valve. The hand held instrument merely carries the vacuum chamber. To create a negative pressure in the vacuum chamber, the hand held instrument must be placed on a base. The base contains a vacuum pump that pneumatically interconnects with the vacuum chamber when the hand held instrument is placed on the base.

Abstract: A stent delivery system which includes a single or a pair of stent retaining sleeves having a ribbed configuration. The ribbed configuration providing the sleeves with reduced columnar strength and an improved radial strength characteristics. The sleeves of the present stent delivery system further providing a recoil action in opposite longitudinal directions when the stent is being expanded. The recoil assists in fully retracting the sleeves from the stent.

Abstract: A handheld biopsy device is provided for the collection of soft tissue samples from a surgical patient. In a preferred embodiment, the biopsy device comprises a handpiece, a fluid collection system, and a power transmission source. The handpiece is configured for grasping by a single hand, and being independently manipulatable by hand for movement of the instrument toward and away from the patient. An elongated piercer extends from the distal end of the handpiece. The piercer has a sharpened distal end for entering the tissue and a port located proximal to the sharpened distal end for receiving a portion of tissue mass. An elongated cutter is disposed coaxially relative to a piercer lumen of the piercer. A distal blade of the cutter slides distally past the port of the piercer to severe the tissue portion drawn into the port by vacuum. The cutter is retracted to a most proximal position for removal of the tissue portion from a cutter lumen of the cutter.

Abstract: A surgical needle is attached to a handle which includes a vibrating device for inducing vibrations in a prescribed frequency range to the needle. The needle's vibration helps avoid damage to major blood vessels and nerves when the needle is pushed through subcutaneous patient tissue. In one form the needle has provision to grip the end of a suture, so that the suture may be attached after the needle is pushed through and emerges out of subcutaneous tissue. In a face-lift operation the needle may be pushed through a path where support is desired, then the end of a one-way suture can be attached to the distal end of the needle, after which the one-way suture can be retracted so that the one-way suture occupies the same path where the needle was inserted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering material into bone deploy a cannula through soft tissue to establish a subcutaneous path into bone. A material is introduced into bone through the cannula. The systems and methods advance a tamping instrument through the cannula to urge material residing in the cannula into bone. The introducing step delivers material at a pressure no greater than about 360 psi.

Abstract: The handle has a blade mounting portion with a raised boss forming a slot. The blade has a boss receiving recess with a portion defined by an edge. The cartridge has a transparent top so that the presence of a blade within the cartridge can be observed and an opening at one end into which the blade mounting portion of the handle can be inserted. The bottom of the cartridge includes a spring platform with a recess into which the blade is received. The platform is integral with the cartridge bottom and is mounted in cantilever-like fashion, by a living hinge, to permit it to flex. When the top and bottom of the cartridge are assembled, ribs on the top cause the platform to move to a spring loaded position, where the forward end of the handle boss can enter the blade recess. As the blade mounting portion of the handle is inserted further into the cartridge, the flexibility of the platform permits the boss to be fully seated within the recess, mounting the blade on the handle.

Abstract: A toilet seat lowering system, for use with a toilet seat having a seat bottom and a seat rear which is mounted upon a toilet bowl, comprising a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate and bottom plate are mounted between the toilet seat and toilet bowl near the bowl rear, wherein the top plate is pivotally connected to the seat bottom, and the bottom plate is pivotally connected to the bowl. The top plate is hingeably mounted to the bottom plate near the seat rear. Bellows, having an internal cavity, is located between the top plate and bottom plate. An intake valve and a slow release valve are in communication with the internal cavity of the bellows. When the toilet seat is manually lifted from its initial lowered position to a raised position, air is drawn into the internal cavity through the intake valve, pressurizing the internal cavity and thus maintaining the toilet seat in the raised position.

Abstract: A brace has been invented for releasably maintaining a control lever of a gasoline pump apparatus in a selected position, the brace, in certain aspects, having a body member, at least two pairs of spaced-apart opposed separation members on the body member, including at least a first pair and a second pair, the first pair spaced-apart a first distance and the second pair spaced-apart a second distance which is different from the first distance. In another aspect the brace has a hole through the body member; and in certain aspects, an item is releasably disposed through the hole in the body member. In other aspects one or more channels between two of the separation members facilitates flexing of the body member. In another aspect, a brace has been invented which has a first part, a second part, a spring having a core portion, a first end connected to the first part, and a second end connected to the second part, and the spring urging the two parts to move together rotating about the spring's core portion.

Abstract: A toilet stool capable of being seated for use in defecation or urination, and a toilet stool for use in defecation or urination which is characterized by mounting a toilet seat whose opening width can be varied. The toilet stool comprises a toilet seat having two foliar plates capable of freely falling onto the upper surface of a peripheral edge portion of the toilet stool as a pedestal and a toilet lid mounted on the toilet seat; wherein the foliar plates of the toilet seat is linked to the driving portion of the rear portion of the toilet seat so that the foliar plates of the toilet seat vary the opening width of the toilet seat.