Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for securely affixing a medical instrument to desired tissue in a patient's body, using a fixation agent. Such medical instruments may comprise localization wires or tissue acquisition instruments, such as biopsy instruments, for example. In the case of tissue acquisition instruments, the inventors have discovered significant advantages for securely affixing the distal end of the tissue acquisition instrument to a particular tissue target area. For example, such an approach permits the imaging environment to be uncoupled from the procedural environment so that expensive and often unavailable imaging equipment, such as stereotactic imaging equipment, need not be used. In a preferred embodiment, a bonding agent, such as adhesive, surgical glue, or a solvent, is used as the fixation agent.

Abstract: A guide wire includes a wire body, a first coil, a second coil, and an elongate member. The first coil has a helical shape, and is disposed on a distal end side of the guide wire. The second coil has a helical shape, and is disposed on a distal end side of the first coil. The elongate member has a section that extends a longitudinal direction of the wire body. At least a portion of the section is located inside the second coil, and the elongate member is formed integrally with the first coil or the second coil.

Abstract: A system and method provides for the capture of body tissue samples such as lymph nodes. The system includes a bag formed of a flexible material having a first end opened for receiving the body tissue sample and a second end which is closed to the body tissue sample but which permits a vacuum to be pulled through the bag. The system further includes a vacuum tube in which the body tissue sample capture bag may be disposed and a vacuum source that pulls a vacuum through the body tissue sample capture bag for pulling the body tissue sample into the bag through the opened end of the bag.

Abstract: A device for encapsulating tissue specimens includes a wand assembly, a sheath, and a guide assembly. The guide assembly pulls, draws, or otherwise moves the sheath about the tissue specimen. The wand assembly is disposed proximate to the tissue specimen, typically either adjacent or through the specimen. The guide assembly has sheath deployment members that are disposed about the tissue specimen. The sheath, which is attached to ends of the sheath deployment members and the wand assembly, is drawn over the tissue specimen as the sheath deployment members are pushed or pulled. In another aspect of the device, the guide assembly is an arm or a housing that rotates about the tissue specimen. The sheath, which is secured at one end to the guide assembly and at another end to the wand assembly, is drawn over the tissue specimen as the guide assembly rotates.

Abstract: An aspirating needle for collecting a specimen including an elongated hollow body that includes a first lumen portion and a second lumen portion. The first lumen portion is open at both ends for placement at a specimen site to collect and permit aspiration of the specimen from the specimen site. The second lumen has first and second vent ports, with the second vent port being formed along the elongated body such that that when the needle is placed at the specimen site, the second vent port is positioned at the specimen site. The first vent port is in fluid communication with atmospheric air when the needle is positioned at the specimen site so as to permit pressure within the specimen site to equilibrate with atmospheric pressure by means of the venting action of the second lumen.

Abstract: Instruments for performing percutaneous biopsy procedures are disclosed, which have advantageous features for improving functionality and performance over prior art devices. These instruments comprise two types, single-use devices, and multiple-use devices having active tissue capture capability. Improved features include the ability to retrieve and evaluate multiple tissue samples during a single insertion procedure, without physical handling of the samples, as well as constructional features, such as a molded tissue cassette housing, variant vacuum port embodiments suited for different tissue environments, and a method for backflushing the instrument to remove biological debris, among others.

Abstract: An at least partially implantable hearing system comprising at least one electromechanical output transducer; a micromanipulator for positioning the transducer and for fixing the transducer in a position set by the micromanipulator, the micromanipulator being adapted to be fixedly attached by fixing means to a skull cap; and a releasable coupling unit disposed between the transducer and the micromanipulator, said coupling unit, in an assembled state, fixing the transducer with respect to the micromanipulator, and, in a released state, permitting removal of the transducer from the micromanipulator.

Abstract: The systems, methods and apparatus of the present invention comprise noninvasive methods of measuring temperature changes and rates of temperature change in selected body tissues and fluids as a result of absorption and/or dissipation of externally applied heat for the purpose of detecting and monitoring disease or dysfunction, and for preparing diagnostic images of the tissues and related areas from such measurements. Some embodiments of the present invention monitor temperatures of heated tissues directly while other embodiments may measure temperatures of tissues which are heated through flow of heated fluid therethrough.

Abstract: An intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring system includes an adaptive threshold detection circuit adapted for use in monitoring with a plurality of electrodes placed in muscles which are enervated by a selected nerve and muscles not enervated by the nerve. Nerve monitoring controller algorithms permit the rapid and reliable discrimination between non-repetitive electromyographic (EMG) events repetitive EMG events, thus allowing the surgeon to evaluate whether nerve fatigue is rendering the monitoring results less reliable and whether anesthesia is wearing off. The intraoperative monitoring system is designed as a “surgeon's monitor,” and does not require a neurophysiologist or technician to be in attendance during surgery. The advanced features of the intraoperative monitoring system will greatly assist neurophysiological research toward the general advancement of the field intraoperative EMG monitoring through post-surgical analysis.

Abstract: Treatment apparatus and method for the enhancement of neurophysiological processes of a patient's visual system utilizes a computer generated display that provides a patient simultaneously with passive visual stimulation images and visual cognitive exercises. The stimulation images include moving elements having edges or points of contrast. The exercises include visual and phonological elements. The invention is used to treat reading, writing and speech disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as having broader applications for example in sports sciences.

Abstract: An aspirating needle for collecting a specimen including an elongated hollow body that includes a first lumen portion and a second lumen portion. The first lumen portion is open at both ends for placement at a specimen site to collect and permit aspiration of the specimen from the specimen site. The second lumen has first and second vent ports, with the second vent port being formed along the elongated body such that that when the needle is placed at the specimen site, the second vent port is positioned at the specimen site. The first vent port is in fluid communication with atmospheric air when the needle is positioned at the specimen site so as to permit pressure within the specimen site to equilibrate with atmospheric pressure by means of the venting action of the second lumen.

Abstract: A biopsy device which is compatible for use with a magnetic resonance imaging machine. The device includes a non-metallic elongated substantially tubular needle having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis therebetween, and a port on the elongated needle for receiving a tissue sample. The device further includes a sharpened distal tip for insertion within tissue. The sharpened distal tip is attached to the distal end of the needle and at least partially comprises a material which will leave an artifact under magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: A guide wire, which has excellent follow-up characteristics, sufficients contrasting characteristics and flexibility at a distal end portion thereof and high elasticity at a proximal end portion thereof, includes a core wire, and a coil wire provided on the distal end portion of this core wire coaxially therewith. The coil wire is formed by winding a plurality of wires, which are formed of different constituent materials and placed side by side on a plane, uniformly in an axial direction of the core wire so that the wires are adjacent to each other on the same plane.

Abstract: A body composition management apparatus for a pregnant woman which measures body fat or body water by a bioelectrical impedance method is provided. The apparatus comprises: first input means, second input means, measurement means, first computation means, and second computation means, wherein the first input means inputs personal data of a pregnant woman such as a body height and a body weight, the second input means inputs the gestational weeks, the measurement means measures the bioelectrical impedance of the pregnant woman, the first computation means computes a body fat mass or a total body water from the personal data and the impedance, and the second computation means computes a body fat mass or total body water in a non-pregnant state from the computed body fat mass or total body water and the amount of an increase in body weight from the non-pregnant state.

Abstract: Soft tissue biopsy apparatus for obtaining a tissue specimen comprises a compact handle functioning as a housing having an opening at a front end thereof through which a tubular cannula is arranged to pass. Disposed in the lumen of the cannula is a stylet having a notch formed near its distal end in which a tissue sample is to be captured. First and second springs are operatively coupled individually to the cannula and stylet and a cocking slide incorporating a force reducing mechanism is used to compress the springs while establishing the size of the specimen to be collected in the notch. A trigger mounted on the cocking slide can be used to release the compressed springs in close succession to first advance the end of the stylet beyond the end of the cannula whereby tissue to be extracted flows into the notch and then the spring driving the cannula is released forcing the cannula forward and severing the piece of tissue contained in the notch from surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of manufacturing medical devices. The medical devices include an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a connector assembly disposed adjacent the elongated member to connect the proximal and distal portions, the connector assembly including a radiopaque marker.

Abstract: A replaceable applanation prism for an eye examining instrument is made to be discarded after each use. A bendable tab molded on the prism is deformed by a strain gauge as the prism is inserted into a prism holder, and a signal from the strain gauge is used to verify that a previously unused prism has been inserted into the holder. A microprocessor is programmed to recognize the signal produced by initial deformation of the prism tab so as to proceed with an eye examination only after receiving the strain gauge signal verifying that a previously unused prism has been inserted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a biofeedback session. The system utilizes distributed processing that includes localized processing capability allowing a user to initiate a self-controlled biofeedback session and additionally includes remote processing capabilities enabling simultaneous remote analysis and monitoring of the session.

Abstract: In a medical guide wire 1, a rear half of a leading bulge portion (ellipsoidal helical spring) 5 forms a truncated cone shaped front catheter engagement portion 8. An inner wall of a balloon catheter 2 forms a flared end portion 2A which absorbably fits into the front catheter engagement portion 8 due to the physical adhesion so to provisionally connect the balloon catheter 2 to the front catheter engagement portion 8. The medical guide wire 1 and the balloon catheter 2 are inserted into the blood vessel with one single step procedure when the medical guide wire 1 is introduced into the blood vessel to place the balloon portion 10 at the stricture blood vessel area (P).

Abstract: A volumetric measuring device for measuring a body part. The device includes a fluid container filled with fluid. The fluid container has a body part opening for permitting the insertion of a body part and a displaced fluid opening for permitting the flow of fluid that has been displaced as the result of inserting the body part. A watertight barrier covers the body part opening and maintains a watertight seal over the body part opening while the body part is being inserted. The volumetric measurement is determined by measuring the amount of displaced fluid after the insertion of the body part through the body part opening. In a preferred embodiment, the body part being measured is an erect penis.