Abstract: A method for securely mounting an endovascular stent (2) to a balloon catheter (3, 5) involves the use of a loading device (1) that includes a longitudinal sheath having an opening (10) into which the balloon (5) is inserted. The stent is supported slidably along the outside of the sheath so that it can be slid along the sheath into a position coaxially about the balloon. The stent then is released into stable and secure engagement with the balloon (5) by withdrawing the sheath from between the stent and the balloon. The method may be used in conjunction with a stent that is elastically deformable to a diameter enabling it to be placed about the balloon and then permitted to tighten, elastically, into secure engagement with the balloon, gradually and uniformly. The sheath may be in the form of longitudinal elements (7) connected at one end to a support (6) and having free opposite ends.

Abstract: A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye is formed at the distal end of a cannula. The cannula has a lumen which directs the flexible membrane through an incision and into the eye. The distal end is beveled so as to provide ease of entry into the incision and to orient the discharge opening for the flexible membrane at an inclination to the longitudinal axis of the lumen. The cannula walls about the beveled end are tapered to form a smaller sized end without impeding the advance of the membrane.

Abstract: Treating a site within the body by, e.g., placing an endoprosthesis into the body, with a catheter having a proximal portion remaining outside the body and a shaft for positioning inside the body. The shaft includes in a distal portion a selectively expandable member which can be expanded from a small cross-sectional profile for receiving said endoprosthesis about said expandable member in a compact configuration and a large, expanded cross-sectional profile for expanding said prosthesis during placement into the body, and an elastic strip wrapped in helical fashion about said expandable member such that the strip is stretched when said expandable member is expanded to said large cross-sectional profile.

Abstract: A lens injecting device comprising a slidable plunger and means for providing a force in a direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the slidable plunger to provide controlled release of the deformable intraocular lens from the lens injecting device. Further, a method of implantation of a deformable intraocular lens in the eye by forcing the deformable intraocular lens in a folded or condensed configuration through a passageway through an incision in the eye while applying an opposing force to control release of the deformable intraocular lens into the eye.

Abstract: A sliding knife and needle assembly for creating a percutaneous incision or portal in a living body comprises an elongate hollow rectangular handle having a closed first end, an open second end and a slot extending along one side, with the handle defining a first central longitudinal axis. A knife blade and introducer assembly is slidably housed inside the handle for sliding along the axis. The knife blade is substantially flat and rigidly attached to one end of the introducer. The introducer has a longitudinal bore which extends along a second axis parallel to the first axis. A locking button is attached to the introducer and extends through the slot in the handle. A needle is affixed to the first end of the handle and extends through the second axis and beyond the second end of the handle. The needle extends through the bore in the introducer.

Abstract: A disposable Ear Piercing device consists of an outer cartridge which is inserted into the piercing instrument. The outer cartridge contains a slideable inner capsule retaining an earring with a slideable spacer therein. By applying force to the instrument handle, an internal driving rod advances the inner capsule and slideable spacer forward, forcing the earring post through the ear and into a closed bottom retaining clutch. At such time, the earring is released from the inner capsule by spring arms which are integral with the spacer, opening hinged doors or door on the inner capsule, clearing the outer cartridge and allowing the earring and clutch to be released from the capsule onto the ear. The design of such inner capsule and spacer allows unsymmetrical decorative heads of varying thickness to be utilized.

Abstract: Devices and methods for increasing blood perfusion within the myocardium of the heart by wounding the myocardium and applying growth factors to promote vascularization. One method includes driving spikes into the myocardium from within the heart, with the spikes being formed of biodegradable material, containing releasable growth factors, and having lumens and side holes. An alternative method utilizes non-biodegradable spikes with lumens and side holes. Another method promotes vascularization by injecting angiogenic material into holes bored into the myocardium, leaving a patent hole. Another method includes injecting angiogenic material into the myocardium without boring, leaving no patent hole. The angiogenic material can be carried in a biodegradable adhesive. Revascularization of the myocardium is promoted in one method by externally wounding the heart and applying a patch including growth factors.

Abstract: A morcellater having at least one cutting structure rotatably coupled to a motor mechanism. The cutting structure having a protective structure circumjacent thereto. The protective structure being slidably coupled a housing structure wherein at least a portion of the motor mechanism is located. The invention further including a method of using a morcellater in a body cavity through an incision made therein and wherein the morcellater includes at least one grinding structure, coupled to a motor mechanism, and a protective structure located circumjacent to the grinding mechanism. The protective structure having at least a first end coupled a housing structure wherein at least a portion of the motor mechanism is located and a second free end wherein the grinding structure is generally located. The first end able to freely, upon the application of a predetermined level of pressure to the free end, slide into and out of the housing at least a predetermined distance; the method including.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a precisely controlled incision in a bodily surface is provided. The incision device includes a housing and a lancet blade carried by a lancet guide assembly. The lancet guide assembly includes a lancet guide arm mounted within the housing for pivotal movement and a guide surface. The guide surface guides the lancet blade through an arcuate cutting stroke during which the lancet blade extends through an opening in the housing as the lancet guide arm is pivoted between an unfired and a fired position The incision device also includes a trigger mechanism having a trigger arm mounted in the housing for pivotal movement between a ready-to-fire position and firing position. A spring element is arranged within the housing such that it is an unbiased condition when the trigger arm is in the ready-to-fire position and is biased as the trigger arm pivots towards the firing position.

Abstract: An automatic lens delivery device using a linear actuator which is specially adapted for low torque, low heat applications, and can be used to insert a lens into a user's eye. The linear actuator uses two semiconductor devices which are moved one relative to the other. The movable device pushes a push rod that delivers a lens.

Abstract: An expandable tubular reinforcing member used for body lumens such as blood vessels, the reinforcing member being formed of a continuous elongated helical element comprised of spaced undulating portions forming end loop portions and including a plurality of curvilinear connector elements extending between and interconnecting at least some of the adjacent undulating portions of the helical element over its length.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating stenosed blood vessels is provided, more particularly a percutaneous catheter, including a filter for capturing loose embolic material, used to deliver a stent, preferably within the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, or the carotid arteries. The catheter includes an expandable stent deployed on an inflatable balloon, or alternatively a self-expanding stent. A filter assembly is provided either directly on the catheter, or in a separate sheath or on a guidewire. The filter assembly comprises an expansion frame, having filter mesh attached to it, disposed on a guidewire inserted through the catheter or sheath, or alternatively attached directly on a distal region of the catheter. The expansion frame comprises a structure which is activated from a contracted condition into an enlarged condition in a blood vessel, thereby traversing the vessel with the filter mesh. The expansion frame includes biased struts, a mechanically operated frame, and/or a fluid-operated frame.

Abstract: A device for supporting newly cropped ears of dogs includes an outer member elongated upon a straight axis and fabricated as a monolithic piece of closed cell polymer foam material bounded by concave interior and convex exterior cylindric surfaces. A protective piece of thin plastic material is adhered to the interior surface in a manner to preserve its concave contour. The upper and lower extremities of the device are easily trimmable so as to cause the device to conform to ears of different size and varied upper tip contour.

Abstract: A surgical tack for use in surgical procedures. The surgical tack has a base member and a distally extending spiral member having a distal piercing point. The spiral member forms a spiral. The tack may be used to fasten tissue, sutures, or medical devices to tissue.

Abstract: The ear piercing apparatus comprises a clutch assembly that is slidably attached to apparatus to ensure that an attachment position of a clutch on the piercing pin is adjusted to the thickness of the ear. The position of the clutch assembly may be locked prior to ejecting the piercing pin into the clutch. The ear piercing apparatus includes an ear piercing pin having an enlarged head portion. The enlarged portion is tailored to the shape of the inside of an openable holder device so that the head portion is firmly held within the holder device during the piercing of an ear. The front portion of the holder device is opened by a chamfered edge disposed on a clutch assembly. A pair of jaw members of the holder device may engage the chamfered edge to open the jaw members.

Abstract: Forceps are provided with a bifurcated gripping nose on one end adapted to pivotally engage an implant while a rod passes between the branches of the bifurcated gripping nose. The forceps further define a fulcrum adjacent the gripping nose. The pivotally engaging gripping nose and included fulcrum permit a surgeon to urge the rod into an opening in the implant with a single instrument while securely gripping the implant. With the implant pivotally engaged by the gripping nose, movement of the forceps towards the rod brings the fulcrum into contact with the rod and further movement urges the rod into an opening in the implant. In an alternative form, the gripping nose is laterally offset to urge a laterally offset rod into alignment with the implant upon rotation of the forceps.

Abstract: The device for benign, non-surgical external shaping of corneal tissue to compensate, by refractive correction, for deviations from normal focussing. The jet is directed to erode corneal tissue to provide an increase in curvature to correct for far-sightedness i.e., to refocus a perceived image from beyond retina onto the surface of the retina.

Abstract: A trocar introducer system having a trocar slideably inserted into a lumen of a cannula. The trocar has an elongate member which comprises a proximal end and a distal end. An actuating mechanism is mounted at the proximal end of the trocar and operates a surgical blade which is mounted on the distal end of the trocar. The cannula may have a suture flange, drainage ports, a balloon occluder, and/or threads to facilitate delivery of medical therapies to a body tissue. Methods of using the devices herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for cutting a heart valve annulus. The apparatus includes an actuator and a backup plate coupled to the actuator. The apparatus also includes an annulus cutter movably coupled to the actuator. The annulus cutter can thereby oppose and engage the backup plate. The method includes positioning a backup plate proximate heart valve tissue to be removed. An annulus cutter is then positioned proximate the heart valve tissue opposing the backup plate. The annulus cutter is engaged in opposition with the backup plate to cut the heart valve tissue and form a heart valve annulus. The heart valve tissue is then removed.

Abstract: A safety-shielded trocar having an obturator with a linear cutting edge surface defining a base width substantially less than the diameter of the safety shield is disclosed. When the trocar is inserted through tissue, the tissue dilates from the width of the linear incision to accommodate the size of the safety shield of the trocar, thus making it possible to provide an access opening greater than the incisional width made by the linear cutting edge surface of the obturator. In a preferred embodiment, the safety shield has a shield tip region which is asymmetric to facilitate the dilation of the tissue as the trocar is inserted.