Abstract: A novel handpiece and system for abrasion of skin is disclosed. A short handpiece with a threadably removable tip is used. The opening in the tip is centered on the handpiece axis and a small diameter particle inlet channel and larger diameter outlet channel are both offset from the handpiece axis. A central blade or barrier within the tip divides the tip into two volumes which each communicate with the opening and respective ones of the inlet and outlet passages. A vacuum control opening is formed in the tip for easy control by the operator. Abrasive particles and removed tissue are applied to the interior of a cylindrical filter supported within a supporting container. The annular area between the container and this filter is connected through a secondary emergency filter to a vacuum pump. The cylindrical filter can be a flexible filter bag. A large source of abrasive particles is coupled to the handpiece inlet and the filter is coupled to the handpiece outlet.

Abstract: Improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.

Abstract: An anchor secures an implantable device within a body by engaging a wall of the body. The anchor includes a shank and an arm extending from the shank. The shank and the arm are integrally formed from a single member. The shank attaches to the device.

Abstract: A torquing member is provided in a stent delivery catheter assembly for delivering and implanting a stent at or near a bifurcated vessel. The torquing member, in cooperation with a tracking guide wire and a positioning guide wire, facilitates torquing and rotation of the catheter, and hence the stent mounted thereon, to accurately position and implant the stent at or near the bifurcation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for stenting bifurcated vessels. A proximal angled stent is configured for implanting in a side-branch vessel wherein the proximal angled stent has an angulated portion that corresponds to the angle formed by the intersection of the side-branch vessel and the main vessel so that all portions of the side-branch vessel at the bifurcation are covered by the proximal angled stent. A main-vessel stent is provided for implanting in the main vessel, wherein the main-vessel stent has an aperture or stent cell that aligns with the opening to the side-branch vessel to permit unobstructed blood flow between the main vessel and the side-branch vessel. Side-branch and main-vessel catheter assemblies are advanced over a pair of guide wires for delivering, appropriately orienting, and implanting the proximal angled stent and the apertured stent.

Abstract: A covered self-expanding vascular occlusion device and a method of making and using the device. The device comprises a braided wire member with at least two axially spaced securing members affixed to the braided wire member and a thin film covering at least half of the device. The braided member can be moved between a larger diameter ball-like shape or conical shape in its relaxed position, and a smaller diameter cylindrical shape in its stretched position. The film covering is applied to the device by first stretching a portion of film to form a shape similar to a portion of a device to be covered by the film, then inserting the device into the shape formed in the film so that the film covers at least half of the device, and trimming the film to separate the covered device from the remaining film. The device is used by installing it on the end of a tubular introducer where it is held in its relaxed position until needed.

Abstract: A powered handpiece for driving a surgical blade to cut anatomical tissue includes a reusable handpiece body having a distal end for being coupled with a surgical blade, a drive shaft in the handpiece body for rotatably driving the surgical blade, a motor assembly for being installed in the handpiece body to rotatably drive the drive shaft and a suction channel in the handpiece body including a portion extending through the drive shaft parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor assembly for evacuating anatomical tissue cut by the blade from the handpiece body for external collection. The surgical blade is for use with the powered handpiece and carries a sealing arrangement facilitating irrigation and suction. The handpiece body is capable of being sterilized to medical standards prior to each use.

Abstract: A device for harvesting a tendon for cruciate ligament surgery includes an elongated outer member and an inner member disposed within the outer member, such that the outer and inner members are reciprocally movable relative to one another. The outer member has, at its distal end, a cutting edge for cutting connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon. The inner member is provided with a distal end and pathway into which the tendon is received during the harvesting procedure. The device further includes an actuator for moving the outer member and inner member between a non-actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member and the distal end of the inner member are at least in substantially even alignment, and an actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member is advanced beyond the distal end of the inner member, so as to expose the cutting edge for separating connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon.

Abstract: A stent delivery system is sized to allow it to traverse small-sized vessels of diameter in a range from about 1.25 mm to less than about 2.5 mm in a human body. The delivery system includes a balloon which has an inflated diameter less than 2.5 mm at nominal pressure and is integrated distally on a catheter for selective inflation and deflation through a lumen of the catheter. The stent is adapted to be mounted on the uninflated balloon so that the combination of the balloon when uninflated and the stent mounted thereon has a crossing profile in a range from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 0.8 mm, to enable the delivery system to rapidly traverse the small-sized vessel for subsequent deployment of the stent at a preselected target site of the vessel. At the target site, the balloon is inflated to expand the diameter of the stent to lodge against the wall of the vessel and remain in place when the balloon is deflated and the delivery system is withdrawn from the vessel.

Abstract: Cutting device for skin for 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 invention is the reduced pain during pricking.

Abstract: Opposable surgical clamp members having opposable resilient pads with wedge-shaped and cylindrical protrusions extending from the surfaces of the pads and the use of such members for occluding vessels and other tubular body structures are described. The protrusions are arranged such that when the members are moved toward one another, the protrusions of one pad interdigitate with the protrusions of the other pad. Upon engagement with a vessel, portions of the vessel are forced into the interdigital spaces providing for improved gripping of the vessel. The protrusions also resist lateral or transverse movement of a clamped vessel relative to the pads. The existence of holes under the pad surface alters the relative resiliency of the pad, allowing for an overall pad resiliency that minimizes trauma to a clamped vessel while allowing the local resiliency of the protrusions themselves to be of a hardness to avoid excessive deflection and retain the desired shape and gripping ability.

Abstract: An expandable intraluminal graft for use within a body cavity having a tubular shaped member with two ends and a wall surface disposed between the ends. The tubular shaped member has a first diameter to permit intraluminal delivery of the member into a body cavity, and a second expanded diameter. Coated on the surface of the tubular shaped member is a substance that inhibits and/or reduces restenosis, vascular narrowing and/or in-stent restenosis.

Abstract: An occlusion device with stranded wire support arms for the closure of atrial or ventricular septal defects, for the closure of patent ductus arteriosus, patent foramen ovale, or other vascular defects. The occlusion device comprises a center section extending in an axial direction, with upper and lower stranded wire fixation devices emanating from the center section. The stranded wire fixation devices have been heat treated and formed with a shape memory. The stranded wire fixation devices are formed of multiple wire strands and have atraumatic tips. Attached to the fixation devices are sheets, which serve to occlude the opening.

Abstract: A chamber is provided that allows a user to medicate an implantable prosthesis such as a stent. The implantable prosthesis is capable of securing a therapeutic substance and subsequently delivering the therapeutic substance to local tissues. The chamber allows a user to medicate the prosthesis subsequent to the sterilization process and immediately prior to the implantation procedure. The chamber includes a hollow body defining a chamber cavity that encapsulates the prosthesis crimped on a balloon of a catheter assembly. The chamber is removably mounted on the catheter assembly. A user can supply therapeutic substances into the chamber and allow the therapeutic substances to be secured by the prosthesis. After allowing the prosthesis to be soaked by the therapeutic substances for a predetermined amount of time, the chamber is removed and the prosthesis is ready for the implantation procedure.

Abstract: A corneal surgical apparatus for incising a cornea of a patient's eye in a layered form includes: a suction ring unit, having a circular opening, that is to be vacuum-fixed onto a peripheral part of the cornea; a rotatable shaft; an eccentric pin projecting from a distal end of the shaft, the eccentric pin being located at a position offset from a rotational central axis of the shaft; and a cutting unit movable in an incising direction above the suction ring unit.

Abstract: To reduce damage to surrounding tissue while fragmenting some tissue such as for example not damaging the capsular wall while removing the lens during cataract removal surgery or not damaging artery or vein walls during bypass surgery while freeing the artery or vein to be transplanted, an incision is made for the insertion of surface—a handpiece tip. The tip is rotated and reciprocated ultrasonically at the same time so that tissue is fragmented by the combined motion of a fragmenting surface perpendicular to the surface and at an angle to the surface many times during a single revolution or part of a revolution.

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 non-resorbable. 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 method and device for endoluminally bypassing blood flow through an aneurysm in the vicinity of a branched blood vessel, having a main branch, a first branch, and a second branch.

Abstract: A microkeratome for improved corneal flap production for corneal surgery. The microkeratome, having a first aperture and a cutting blade, includes a second aperture located just below the plane of the cutting blade and through which a corneal plug protrudes in preparation for the lamellar cut of the microkeratome to create a uniformly thick lamellar flap of predetermined diameter and depth. The second aperture can include a second cutting blade. The microkeratome also includes a transparent applanation plate positioned at a predetermined distance above the plane of the cutting blade and an adjustable stop to prevent complete transection of the corneal flap.

Abstract: This is an implantable vaso-occlusive device. It is typically a vaso-occlusive coil comprising a primary helically wound coil which may then be wound into a secondary shape. Central to the invention is the use of a stretch-resisting member extending through the lumen formed, which stretch-resisting member is fixedly attached, directly or indirectly, to the coil in at least two locations. The stretch-resisting member is preferably somewhat loose within the interior of the lumen so to prevent the coil from collapsing, binding, and therefore stiffening during passage of turns through the human body. The coil should bend easily. In some variations of the invention, the stretch-resisting member may be formed into coil tips at the ends of the coil using simple equipment such as soldering irons or the like. The tips are typically of the same diameter as is the coil body itself. This stretch-resisting member is for the primary purpose of preventing stretching of the coil during movement of that coil, e.g.