Abstract: The microkeratome comprises a holder (10) with a suction ring (11) for attachment to the sclera (12) of a patient's eye (13). A suction source (20) is connected to the ring (11). A slide (30) is displaceably mounted on the holder (10) in a linear guide (22). The slide (30) has a plane frontal surface (31) including a transparent plate (32) for contacting the cornea (70) of the eye (13). The plate (32) has concentric circular marks (34) for centering on the eye (13) and for reading the diameter (D) of contact in an initial position of the slide (30). The slide (30) contains a cutting blade (51) with a cutting edge (52) that is parallel to surface (31) and oscillatable in the direction of the edge (52). Two motors (35, 57) are mounted on the slide (30) for moving the slide (30) and oscillating the blade (51).

Abstract: Cutting device for skin obtaining small blood samples from human or animal tissue in an almost pain-free manner. A blade (13) is made to oscillate by an oscillator (14, 32) and is lowered into the tissue and again retracted at a relatively slow speed. In a first embodiment, the blade oscillates essentially parallel to the cutting edge of the blade and the tissue surface. In a second embodiment, the blade oscillates essentially perpendicular to the tissue surface. An advantage of the device of the reduced pain during pricking.

Abstract: A system and method for opening a lumen in an occluded blood vessel, e.g., a coronary bypass graft, of a living being. The system comprises an atherectomy catheter having a working head, e.g., a rotary impacting impeller, and a debris extraction sub-system. The atherectomy catheter is located within a guide catheter. The working head is arranged to operate on, e.g., impact, the occlusive material in the occluded vessel to open a lumen therein, whereupon some debris may be produced. The debris extraction sub-system introduces an infusate liquid at a first flow rate adjacent the working head and withdraws that liquid and some blood at a second and higher flow rate, through the guide catheter to create a differential flow adjacent the working head, whereupon the debris is withdrawn in the infusate liquid and blood for collection outside the being's body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high efficiency external counterpulsation apparatus having accurate and reliable timing of inflation and deflation and reduced temperature of the pressurized gas, such that the gas flow temperature of the balloons is near to room temperature. The external counterpulsation apparatus also has a new gas distribution device and devices for monitoring the blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood of a patient for improving safety. The present invention further provides a method for controlling the external counterpulsation apparatus.

Abstract: Balloon loaded dissection devices with elongate balloons and a pushing member are disclosed for creating a tunnel alongside an elongate vessel in the body. The devices may utilize an elongate balloon of any suitable length which may be formed of an elastic or non-elastic material. The balloon may be of double walled construction and may be provided with a central lumen which may receive a guide rod, scope or other surgical instrument. The device may have a support tube secured to the inner wall of the balloon to provide columnar support for the apparatus. The support tube receives the guide rod, scope or other surgical instrument and may have a stop member to translate pushing force applied to the guide rod or scope to pushing force on the apparatus. By using the guide rod or scope as a pushing member the apparatus may be advanced alongside the vessel it is desired to dissect free from attached tissue.

Abstract: Devices and methods for filtering blood. The devices generally comprise: a mesh for filtering blood flowing within a blood vessel, particularly within an artery such as the aorta; a structure adapted to open and close the mesh within the blood vessel; and a means to actuate the structure. The methods generally include the following steps: introducing a mesh into a blood vessel to entrap embolic material; adjusting the mesh, if necessary, during the course of filtration; and removing the mesh and the entrapped foreign matter from the blood vessel. Additionally, visualization techniques are used to ensure effective filtration.

Abstract: One device in accordance with the present invention includes a surgical device for creating channels in tissue of a patient. The device includes a catheter defining a lumen and a transducer assembly carried by the catheter along a lengthwise dimension of the catheter. An end effector is operatively coupled to the transducer assembly and extends distally relative to the transducer assembly. The end effector has a vibrating channel-forming tip wherein the channel-forming tip is adapted to create channels in the heart of a patient. A method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of inserting an end effector having a tip into a patient, placing the tip of the end effector in direct contact with a surface of the heart, energizing the end effector to cause the tip to vibrate, piercing through the surface of the heart with the tip to create a channel, and removing the end effector.

Abstract: The invention features a method of removing a hair, involving mechanically or chemically removing the hair to expose the follicle of the hair, and then treating the follicle to inhibit its ability to regenerate a hair. Removing the hair facilitates the uptake of a follicle-inactivating compound and thus allows for long-term inhibition of hair growth.

Abstract: A keratome (10) and a method for using the keratome (10) for cutting a cornea of an eye (14) are provided which allow an operator to view the cutting operation as it occurs. The keratome (10) includes an annular housing (12) sized to contact the eye (14) and allow a portion (21) of the cornea to protrude therein. A motor housing (22) is mounted to the annular housing (12) for movement with respect thereto in a feed direction. A blade (36) is mounted by the motor housing (22) for movement in a cutting direction transverse to the feed direction, and a motor (26) mounted by the motor housing (22) is drivingly connected to the blade (36) to provide reciprocal movement thereof in the cutting direction. Movement of the motor housing (22) in the feed direction across the eye (14) accompanied by movement of the blade (36) in the cutting direction cuts the portion (21) of the cornea protruding into the annular housing (12), while an operator can view the cutting through the annular housing (12).

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.

Abstract: A combination tissue dissector and long term expander is disclosed for use in plastic surgery applications and other applications where it is desirable to dissect a tissue pocket and serially expand the dissected pocket through long term tissue expansion. The combination device performs the separate functions of dissection and long term expansion in a single balloon package. In an exemplary embodiment, three sheets of substantially inelastic material are bonded together at their outer margins to form two discrete inflatable chambers. The lower inflatable chamber defined by the middle and lower balloon sheets is further welded together at various points over the sheet's surface area to create a semi-rigid base portion which provides a flat well-defined footprint for the balloon. The semi-rigid base prevents further enlargement of the tissue pocket at the margins when the device is utilized as a tissue expander.

Abstract: This is an implant for placement in the human body and an assembly for so placing that implant. Most desirably, it is an implant for use in the vasculature of the human body and is used to occlude some space in that vasculature as a portion of a treatment regimen. The implant itself is preferably a component of a deployment device using an electrolytically severable joint. The implant is electrically isolated from the electrolytically severable joint by a highly resistive or insulative layer. Such isolation and minimization of the conductive pathway from the placement apparatus to the body's fluids appears to enhance the susceptibility of the electrolytic joint to quick erosion and detachment of the implant from the deployment media. Although the implant itself is preferably a vaso-occlusive device, it may instead be a stent, a vena cava filter, or other implant which may be installed in this manner.

Abstract: In order to allow a particularly small construction of a scissors-like tool for a surgical instrument with two interconnected arms which are pivotable elastically between a spread open position and a virtually closed position by engagement of a sleeve over the outside to a greater or lesser extent, this sleeve being axially displaceable relative to and engaging around the scissors-like tool, it is suggested that for forming the arms a rod consisting of elastic material have a diametric, front recess starting from its free end and followed by an additional, diametric, rear recess which is turned through 90.degree.

Abstract: A stent delivery device having a pair of balloons at a proximal end of a catheter and having separate lumens for selectively inflating the respective balloons. The outer balloon is relatively compliant and the inner balloon is relatively non-compliant. A central lumen is provided for a guide wire. A stent is carried by the delivery device within an axially retractable sheath at the distal end of the catheter and is deployed by retraction of the sheath and inflation of the compliant balloon, and the stent is subsequently expanded by inflation of the non-compliant balloon.

Abstract: A transmyocardial revascularization system including a plurality of inserts formed of a material to elicit a healing response in tissue of the myocardium and deployment instruments and associated components for deploying the inserts into the wall of the myocardium. The inserts are arranged to be disposed within respective lumens or channels in the wall of the myocardium. The inserts can take various forms, e.g., be solid members, tubular members, or porous members, and may be resorbable, partially resorbable or nonresorbable. In some embodiments the inserts are arranged to be left in place within the channels in the wall of the myocardium to result in plural lumens which enable blood to flow therethrough and into contiguous capillaries. The deployment instruments are arranged to pierce the tissue of the myocardium from either the endocardium or the epicardium to insert the inserts into the myocardium, depending on the particular deployment instrument used.

Abstract: A rotary cutter having two telescopically related tubes with cutting edges on the distal ends thereof. Handles are attached to the tubes for relative rotation of the tubes and thereby effect cutting by the cutting edges. The cutting edges are circular and overlap each other for shearing cutting action upon rotation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oral hygiene device, comprising an elongate handle having a bristle end and a scraper end, the bristle end having a plurality of bristles disposed thereon adapted to brushing the user's teeth as in a conventional toothbrush. An arcuate blade member is provided having a concave surface and an opposing convex surface and at least one blade edge disposed at a juncture of the convex and concave surfaces and wherein the curvature of the arcuate blade member is sized, shaped and adapted to scraping the upper surfaces of the human tongue. the arcuate blade member is disposed and attached by support member to the scraper end of the elongate handle such that the concave surface faces the scraper end of the elongate handle.

Abstract: A motor driven needling device for treating patients having chronic muscular pain includes a motor driven poking tool for mounting a needle, a control unit for adjusting the frequency and the depth of the poking, a mechanical swivel arm for holding and positioning the tool, a remote switch for activating the motorized tool, and an aid useful in causing the needle to puncture the patient's skin once the tool is positioned at a proper location over the muscle to be treated.

Abstract: A cover and noseform is disclosed for protecting, dilating and maintaining dilation of the nose as well as aligning the nasal passages with the nares of the nose to increase the efficiency of breathing and prevent problems such as snoring. The noseform is applied to cover at least a portion of the nose and causes the end or apex of the nose to be lifted in a direction aligned with the nose and toward the forehead of the person to align the nares and nasal passages of the nose. The noseform includes a first portion adhered to the nose, a second portion adhered to the nose distal from the first portion and a means for moving the second portion toward the first portion to lift the end of the nose toward the glabella or forehead region as well as covering the nose of the wearer. The noseform also includes a rest to prevent a pair of glasses from slipping down the nose and constricting the nasal passages.

Abstract: The present invention is a stent delivery catheter system for placing a stent within a stenosis in a vessel of a human body. The stent delivery catheter system utilizes a slideable sheath with a thin-walled distal portion that is situated coaxially over a stent that is placed onto a balloon located at the distal portion of a balloon angioplasty catheter. The distal end of a central portion of the sheath has an interior shoulder which is capable of exerting a distally directed push force on the balloon angioplasty catheter at a point that is just proximal to the stent. This push force is then transferred through the non-deployed stent to a gradually tapered, highly flexible, lubricity coated distal tip of the balloon angioplasty catheter.