Abstract: A catheter has an inner sleeve through which refrigerant circulates to and from a source of refrigerant. The catheter also has an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve, including a distal end thereof. The outer sleeve is filled with a frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant is separated from the biocompatible substance by one or more walls of the inner sleeve such that the refrigerant is isolated from a patient in whom the catheter is positioned by both the inner sleeve and the frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant circulates through the catheter when the catheter is positioned in the patient to maintain the biocompatible substance frozen as heat is transferred from the patient to the biocompatible substance.

Abstract: A catheter has an inner sleeve through which refrigerant circulates to and from a source of refrigerant. The catheter also has an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve, including a distal end thereof. The outer sleeve is filled with a frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant is separated from the biocompatible substance by one or more walls of the inner sleeve such that the refrigerant is isolated from a patient in whom the catheter is positioned by both the inner sleeve and the frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant circulates through the catheter when the catheter is positioned in the patient to maintain the biocompatible substance frozen as heat is transferred from the patient to the biocompatible substance.

Abstract: A vessel sealer has a stepped jaw that allows the jaw to have an overall shape and a width that provides desired strength, shape, and functionality while permitting a smaller raised portion to apply the sealing pressure. The smaller area applying the sealing pressure allows an actuating mechanism to apply a clinically desired sealing pressure without exceeding the force or torque limitations of the actuating mechanism and can limit thermal spread during a sealing procedure.

Abstract: A catheter has a series of hollow loops arranged along a tube for carrying working fluid from a heat exchange system to exchange heat with a patient in whom the catheter is advanced. The loops when inflated are transverse to the catheter axis and parallel to each other, and circumscribe a hollow passageway through which blood can flow. Blood also flows around the outer perimeters of the loops.

Abstract: Remanufactured BIS sensors and methods for remanufacturing used BIS sensors are provided. Such a remanufactured sensor may include certain components from a used medical sensor and certain new components. For example, a remanufactured BIS sensor may include a backing layer and at least first, second, and third electrodes disposed on the backing layer having a conductive ink. The first, second, and third electrodes are adapted to be in electrical contact with a patient to perform BIS measurements. A foam layer may be disposed on at least a portion of the backing layer, and an adhesive may be attached to the foam layer and is configured to secure the remanufactured BIS sensor to the patient. The first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, the backing layer, or a combination thereof, may be new and the foam layer, the adhesive, or a combination thereof, may be from a used medical sensor.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a probe includes at least one shank, optical components disposed within the shank for transmitting light into a sample and collecting light from the sample, and electrical components disposed within the shank for recording an electrical signal from the sample. In certain embodiments, a method includes collecting light from the sample using a first shank of the probe, recording an electrical signal from the sample using a second shank of the probe, and analyzing the collected light and the electrical signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude, the apparatus including a housing; stimulation means for electrically stimulating a human sural nerve; a biosensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for detecting a sural nerve response evoked by the stimulation means; acquisition means electrically connected to the biosensor for electrically acquiring the sural nerve response detected by the biosensor; processing means electrically connected to the acquisition means for digitizing, processing and storing the acquired sural nerve response; calculation means electrically connected to the processing means for calculating the conduction velocity and amplitude of the processed sural nerve response; and display means for displaying the sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude; wherein the stimulation means and the biosensor are designed to be placed on a patient's anatomy, in the vicinity of a sural nerve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a distal end electrode assembly for use in connection with electrosurgical devices, particularly those adapted for the modification, sculpting, resection, removal, or vaporization of tissue, configured for coagulation, cauterization or hemostasis purposes, or utilized for thermal treatment of normal and tumorous tissues. In the context of the present invention, mechanical fastening means, epoxies and other high-temperature adhesives connecting electrode(s) to insulator(s) are replaced with brazed joints to yield electrosurgical devices capable of safely and reliably operating at high power densities and elevated temperatures without thermal failure of the bonds between the electrode and the insulator.

Abstract: A hands-free lactation aid and soothing garment can be used for simultaneous warm and cool therapy. Therapeutic cozies can be used in conjunction with a camisole or nursing camisole, bra, or nursing bra or apparel, can be inserted into a cozy cover for use with an adjustable neckband. With the appropriate breast cozies, breast pumping or nursing can occur simultaneously with warm/cool therapy, and a privacy shield attaches easily. An additional neck therapy insert can be used to sooth a sore neck, while an additional nipple soother can be attached to the center of the cozies to provide simultaneous warm and cold therapy to the effected area.

Abstract: An introducer sheath for a medical device is provided. The sheath includes a deformable, elongate body disposed about a longitudinal axis. The body has proximal and distal ends and defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends and configured to allow passage of the medical device therethrough. The body is configured to allow an electric current to pass radially between a space outside of the body and the lumen such that the position of the medical device within a patient can be monitored and electrogram readings from body tissues can be measured while the device is in the sheath. In some embodiments of the invention, the body may include a one or more apertures extending from the radially outer surface of the body to the lumen or a portion of the body may be made from a conductive and/or fluid permeable material.

Abstract: An improved steerable catheter with biased, in-plane bi-directional deflection has an elongated catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section having a tubing with at least a first and a second off-axis opposing lumens for puller wires that define a plane of deflection, and a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body. The deflectable intermediate section includes at least two elongated bias members that extend along the length and lie on a plane perpendicular to the plane of deflection so as to resist flexure outside of the plane of deflection. In a more detailed embodiment, the deflectable intermediate section has an integrated tubular construction that includes an inner layer, a braided mesh surrounding the inner layer and an outer layer, where the bias members can be situated between the inner layer and the braided mesh, or between the braided mesh and the outer layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for producing and using electrodes, which may be flexible and/or stretchable, and interconnection structures that can be used both externally and/or implanted within the body. Electrodes according to various embodiments disclosed herein may be produced by depositing patterned layers of insulating and conductive polymers to form multi-layer circuits. The conductive materials and layers in the structure can be exposed on the surface of the structures for use as electrodes. A plurality of electrodes may be formed into an electrode array. In various embodiments, electrode arrays may be associated with telemetry modules configured to wirelessly transmit data collected by the electrode array to a receiver module.

Abstract: A thermal therapy device comprising a flexible, water-impermeable container containing a plurality of discrete, non-water-soluble hydrophillic absorbers, a hydrating liquid mixture comprising water, means for physically separating at least two adjacent absorbers thereby providing a means for preventing clumping, and a plurality of insulating members. The means for preventing clumping maintaining the pliability of the device in a frozen state after prolonged and extend cycles of freezing/thawing. A rigid storage container is also provided.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a rotational control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The rotational control assembly has an outer rotational member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the rotational control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A robotic surgery system comprises a mounting base, a plurality of surgical instruments, and an articulate support assembly. Each instrument is insertable into a patient through an associated minimally invasive aperture to a desired internal surgical site. The articulate support assembly movably supports the instruments relative to the base. The support generally comprises an orienting platform, a platform linkage movably supporting the orienting platform relative to the base, and a plurality of manipulators mounted to the orienting platform, wherein each manipulator movably supports an associated instrument.

Abstract: A solar collector includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface, a sidewall, a transparent cover, and a heat-absorbing layer. The sidewall is arranged on the periphery of the top surface of the substrate. The transparent cover is disposed on the sidewall opposite to the substrate to form a sealed chamber. The heat-absorbing layer is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and includes a carbon nanotube film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film are joined end-to-end.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical instrument is provided. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument includes first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof for effecting movement of the jaw members relative to one another. A first conductive lead is adapted to connect to a first electrical potential and a second conductive lead is adapted to connect to a second electrical potential. One of the first and second conductive leads extends through the pivot to connect to a respective jaw member.

Abstract: A device for collection of exfoliated cells from the rectal mucosa comprises a hollow, cylindrical body having an inflatable and invertible flexible membrane attached to one end thereof. Applying positive pressure to inflate the membrane after the device is inserted, preferably through a rectal access tube, into the rectum causes exfoliated cells to be collected on the surface of the membrane. Before removal of the device, negative pressure is applied and the membrane, along with the collected sample of exfoliated cells, is deflated, inverted and withdrawn into the body of the device, thereby avoiding contact of the collected sample with body surfaces or the rectal access tube as the device is removed from the rectum.

Abstract: A surgical device control circuit. The control circuit may comprise a first circuit portion comprising at least one first switch. The first circuit portion may communicate with a surgical generator over a conductor pair. The control circuit may also comprise a second circuit portion comprising a data circuit element. The data circuit element may be disposed in an instrument of the surgical device and transmit or receive data. The data circuit element may implement data communications with the surgical generator over at least one conductor of the conductor pair.

Abstract: An electrophysiologic catheter with an improved control handle is provided. The catheter includes a heat transfer assembly to better dissipate heat in the control handle. The heat transfer assembly includes a pump, a reservoir containing a coolant, a heat transfer member, and a coolant transport network transporting coolant between at least the reservoir and the heat transfer member. In one embodiment, the heat transfer member is located within the control handle as a heat exchanger on the circuit board to receive the coolant for transferring heat from the integrated circuits to the coolant. In another embodiment, the heat transfer member is located on the circuit board directly surrounding the integrated circuits to internally cool the integrated circuit within the control handle. A second heat transfer member is located outside of the control handle as a heat exchanger.