Abstract: A rotational ablation atherectomy device including a flexible drive shaft and a compressible burr that may be inserted and extracted from a patient using a catheter having a diameter that is smaller than the operational diameter of the burr. In one embodiment, the burr includes a nose portion coupled to the drive shaft and one or more flexible abrasive disks disposed rearwardly from the nose portion. The flexible disks are foldable to be slidably received within a catheter. In another embodiment, the burr includes a support member coupled to the drive shaft, the support member having a resilient panel that spirals outwardly, forming a generally cylindrical ablation surface. The flexible panel can be elastically urged toward the support member and slidably inserted into the catheter. In a third embodiment, the burr includes a plurality of struts that are coupled to the drive shaft. An elastically compressible body disposed between the struts permits the struts to flex inwardly to reduce the burr diameter.

Abstract: An implantable medical device comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis. A first set of anchoring members are operatively connected to the proximal end of the housing. A second set of anchoring members are operatively connected to the distal end of the housing. The first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. The collapsed position is defined as a position whereby the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The deployed position is defined as a position whereby the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a closure element into a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes an introducer sheath, and a locator member disposed within the sheath, the locator member having a distal portion extending distally beyond the distal end of the sheath. A plurality of splines are provided on the distal portion of the locator member, the splines being selectively expandable between an axial collapsed configuration and a transverse expanded configuration. An actuator is coupled to the locator member for controllably expanding the splines. A housing is slidably disposed on the sheath for deploying a closure element, such as a vascular clip. The locator actuator may automatically collapse the splines upon advancement of the housing.

Abstract: A surgical assembly for resecting a greater tubercle from a humerus of a patient during performance of a shoulder replacement procedure. The surgical assembly includes a cutting tool for resecting the greater tubercle from the humerus. The surgical assembly also includes a tool guide member having a tool guide surface defined therein. The tool guide surface is configured to position the cutting tool in a predetermined position relative to the greater tubercle of the humerus. A method of resecting a greater tubercle from a humerus of a patient during performance of a shoulder replacement procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cardiac insert or implant is deployed in a patient's heart so as to reduce ventricular volume, thereby improving cardiac function. The insert or implant may be a compressive device such as a tensile member inserted into the patient's heart, and thereafter operated or deployed to bring opposite walls of a ventricle of the patient's heart into at least approximate contact with one another to thereby constrict and close off a lower portion of that ventricle. The compressive device or tensile member is insertable into the patient heart via a catheter threaded through the patient's vascular system and into the patient's heart.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the compliance of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the apparatus including a catheter having a plurality of extendable members for both measuring the compliance of the LES and stimulating the esophagus which relaxes the LES to obtain a more clinically relevant measurement of LES compliance. In one embodiment, the plurality of extendable members include a first balloon which is located and inflated within the esophagus to trigger esophageal motility, a second, non-elastic balloon that is positioned within the LES, and a third balloon which is inflated within the stomach to help align the second balloon with LES. Incrementally increasing volumes of air are introduced into the second balloon, with the resulting pressures exerted by the LES calculated and compared to normative values to assess the condition of the LES.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing element for fixing a first bone fragment (5.1), notably an ankle-bone fragment in ankle joint fractures, to a corresponding second bone fragment (5.2). Said element comprises an elongated spreading part (2) and a fixing part (1) which can be introduced into aligned holes (4, 6) in the bone fragments (5.1, 5.2). The fixing part has a proximal first section (1.1) designed to be introduced into the first bone fragment (5.1) and an adjoining distal second section (1.2) designed to be introduced into the second bone fragment (5.2), as well as a hollow cavity (3) extending substantially along its full length. The fixing part (1) is configured such that it can be fully introduced into the holes (4, 6); by proximal introduction of the spreading part (2) into the hollow cavity (3) at right angles to its longitudinal direction can be spread open by wedge action at least in the area of its two ends so as to be joined to the corresponding bone fragment (5.1, 5.

Abstract: A roll and press gas lighter is rendered child resistant by a protective strip (26, 35) which extends around the sparkwheel (15) and impedes the action of the user's thumb. The wheel assembly (13) is mounted for reciprocal motion and upwardly biased by the flint spring (19), and is depressed by the user during operation. The thumbwheel (16) may have a smooth periphery to increase the force required to rotate it.

Abstract: A replaceable handle for side loading the proximal end of a medical device therein, which is typically inserted with the operating lumen of an endoscope. The replaceable handle can side-load the proximal end of the device into the handle for added manipulation of the distal end such as in removing a stone from the kidney or ureter leading therefrom. An inner housing is rotatable within an outer housing of the handle to secure the medical device in the housing passageway, and is spring biased to then move proximally with respect to the outer housing, moving the inner control rod of the medical device proximally to withdraw the stone basket mostly into the outer cannula and capture the stone for removal from the patient. A push button in the proximal end portion of the inner housing is depressible to permit insertion or withdrawal of the proximal end of the inner control rod of the stone retriever within the inner housing, and is releasable to secure the inner control rod in the handle.

Abstract: A solid fuel cooking device incorporates a combustion chamber bound by an open upper side and an open lower side and is substantially closed on four sides by a retaining wall. The combustion chamber is covered from above by a cooking surface grate and below by a solid fuel support grate where the fuel support is disposed within the retaining wall below and parallel to the cooking surface grate. A housing is attached to the exterior of the retaining wall creating an air space between the housing and retaining wall. The cooking device uses a unique arrangement of gas jets to ignite the solid fuel where the gas jets are mounted horizontally within the retaining wall below the fuel support platform, injecting the lit gas beneath the solid fuel positioned upon the fuel support.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting an obstruction located in a patient's vessel by fragmenting the obstruction and conveying the fragments through the apparatus out of the patient's body, having a flexible-tube with an open distal end, connected to a negative pressures, a motor-rotated, flexible, spiral conveyor-shaft disposed in the flexible tube that conveys the obstruction fragments, cooperatively with the negative pressure, through the flexible tube and an offset agitator that is connected to and is rotated by the flexible conveyor-shaft to fragment the obstruction. The offset-agitator can be moved in and out of the flexible tube, through the open distal end, to adjust its effective diameter.

Abstract: A curved ultrasonic waveguide, as used in an ultrasonic surgical instrument, includes two curved half-wave sections, having similar vibratory motion at their respective distal tips, which are integrally or compressively joined at the distal tips to create a single waveguide with a sharper bend radius than is conventionally possible. The resulting waveguide does not produce parasitic motion or generate excessive heat at the input or output portions of the waveguide.

Abstract: A cap of an endoscope has an end part. On an inner periphery of the end part, a reference mark showing an ideal focus position and six marks are formed with regular intervals. When a circular end surface of the cap is pressed against a mucous membrane, the mucous membrane swells to the reference mark. Therefore, the mucous membrane can be kept at the ideal focus position for an object optical system.

Abstract: A de-agglomerator is provided for use with a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler for breaking up aggregates and micronizing particles of dry powder prior to inhalation of the powder by a patient using the inhaler. The de-agglomerator includes an inner wall defining a swirl chamber extending along an axis from a first end to a second end, a dry powder supply port, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The supply port is in the first end of the swirl chamber for providing fluid communication between a dry powder delivery passageway of an inhaler and the first end of the swirl chamber. The inlet port is in the inner wall of the swirl chamber adjacent to the first end of the swirl chamber and provides fluid communication between a region exterior to the de-agglomerator and the swirl chamber.

Abstract: Provided is an absorbent article which includes a backsheet, a liquid-pervious topsheet and an absorbent core sandwiched between the backsheet and the topsheet. At least the backsheet is made from a water-decomposable material. The backsheet is formed of a fibrous sheet that contains water-dispersible fibers and water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose. The water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose has a degree of etherification (D.S.) falling between 0.3 and 0.6, and is modified so that the hydrogens of at least 95% of carboxylic acids therein are substituted with metal.

Abstract: A method for implanting a medical device between tissue comprises the steps of providing a catheter having a body and a distal end thereof wherein the catheter includes an implantable device comprising a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis. The implantable device further includes a first set of anchoring members operatively connected to the proximal end of the housing and a second set of anchoring members operatively connected to the distal end of the housing. Both sets of anchoring members are movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. Each set of anchoring members includes ring members connected to a housing of the device. Further steps of the method include inserting the distal end of the catheter into tissue and disposing the medical device at least partially from the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A wire station is disclosed for securing and managing multiple wire members used in a catheter system. The wire management system includes a station for securing the proximal portion of two wire members in a spatially separate arrangement. The wire station additionally provides a physician with the flexibility of either directly attaching the wire station to the catheter system directly, or positioning the wire station at a remote location.

Abstract: An improved, asynchronous method of operating a microsurgical instrument, such as a vitrectomy probe. The instrument includes a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member. A flow of tissue is induced into the port with a vacuum source. The port is at least partially occluded with the tissue. The occlusion is detected, and the inner cutting member is actuated to close the port and cut the tissue.

Abstract: A support device for endoscopic suturless anastomosis between tubular organs include at least a first tubular member provided with a longitudinal slit which permits introduction of the organs to be anastomosed in the device and additional second tubular members in physical continuity with the first tubular member through an opening on the first tubular member. The size of the opening is substantially equal to the luminal area of the second member. The inner and outer diameters of any radial cross section of the second members are constant along its length. The device allows apposition of the two tubular organs to be anastomosed in a variety of spatial patterns and their fixation to each other without sutures or clips, either manually or via remote control, and the creation of luminal continuity between them.

Abstract: This invention provides a thin wall header fabricated from a nickel-base superalloy, UNS N06626, for the solar absorption panels in a molten nitrate salt solar central receiver. The thin wall header is obtained by using multiple flow distribution nozzles to yield the smallest diameter header having uniform flow distribution for the panel tubes while providing enough space to butt weld the tubes to the nozzles with an automatic orbital weld head and avoid overlapment of the nozzle reinforcement regions. This small diameter combined with the high allowable tensile stress of UNS N06626 results in a thin wall header. The thin wall small diameter UNS N06626 header with its low thermal expansion coefficient and small temperature gradients and differentials during cloud cover induced molten salt temperature transients yields low thermal strains in the tube nozzle to header region. The nozzles may be formed by direct extrusion from the header wall or by insert-welding a machined nozzle into the header wall.