Abstract: Improvements to external stents to render incompetent venous valves competent are disclosed. The device is an inelastic bio-compatible cuff (1) that encircles the venous valve cusps (15) decreasing the internal diameter of the vein wall (11) to allow apposition of the cusps (15) and create competence. The device may be calibrated to known diameters to create competence for different phenotypes. The different diameters are indicated by holes (2, 3, 4) in the body (1). The buckle attachment (6) allows the body of the device to become conical or inverted to become pyramidal as appropriate. The wide buckle (5) allows the device to become elliptical at smaller diameters. The angle of the notches (10) in the device is approximately 15°, which allows better overriding at the sapheno-femoral junction resulting in better competence of the valve.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a seamless pad-type filter which is characterized in that it comprises two co-extensive sides, a top side and a bottom side. The top and bottom sides are made of fluid filtration material. The two sides create an inner chamber therebetween and are surrounded and joined together by a seamless outer perimeter. The seamless outer perimeter providing a seamless folded continuity between the two sides of the pad-type filter in the form of a plurality of fold lines which, as connecting segments beginning and ending at the same point, define the seamless outer perimeter. The top side further comprising a plurality of positive and negative secondary creases formed around a plurality of positive and negative crease lines. The crease lines are inclined to the fold lines and form pleats.

Abstract: A device and method for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in vascular structures and other body ducts or vessels in an emergency room or trauma situation. The device has at least one shunt that contains an obturator on an end of the shunt. The shunt is inserted into a damaged vessel or lumen for sealing the leak or hemorrhage. Two shunts that both contain obturators on one of their ends can be inserted into two different vessels or lumens when the vessel or lumen has been severed. The obturators allow for the improved ease of insertion into the vessel or lumen. The two shunts are then releasably attached to restore fluid communication through the vessel or lumen. The shunt is placed temporarily within the patient and then removed when definitive repair can be achieved by a qualified physician.

Abstract: An piercing member is axially fixed to and positioned within a cutter, both of which are components of a stand-alone tool for creating an opening in the wall of a tubular tissue structure. The stand-alone tool includes an impulse source connected to the piercing member and to the cutter. An actuator is operationally connected to the impulse source, where the actuator causes the impulse source to release energy to and provide an impulse to the piercing member and the cutter. The tool may be configured to make multiple openings in the tissue of the same patient. Where the tool is configured to make multiple openings in the tissue of the same patient, the tool allows the piercing member and cutter to be moved back to an initial pre-deployment position after each use.

Abstract: Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises trabecular bypass surgery, which involves bypassing diseased trabecular meshwork with the use of a stent implant. The stent implant is inserted into an opening created in the trabecular meshwork by a piercing member that is slidably advanceable through the lumen of the stent implant for supporting the implant insertion. The stent implant is positioned through the trabecular meshwork so that an inlet end of the stent implant is exposed to the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet end is positioned into fluid collection channels at about an exterior surface of the trabecular meshwork or up to the level of aqueous veins.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an obturator tip having a rigid, elongated, distal section having a blunt, rounded, distal end designed to separate tissue. The distal section is connected to a proximal section by a central section having tapered outer surfaces. The obturator tip of the present invention is equipped with arc shaped blades positioned on opposite sides of the tip and 180 degrees apart from each other. In one embodiment, the arc shaped blades are positioned rearwardly with respect to the distal section of the obturator. This feature of the present invention allows the elongated distal section to create a small, non-cutting tissue separating track prior to blade contact with the patient.

Abstract: A toggling suture anchor, insertion tool, and method for anchoring at least one suture thread to a bone are provided. The toggling suture anchor is anchored by operation of the insertion tool, the suture anchor including a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, a proximal end, at least one eyelet hole to receive the suture thread, and at least one suture groove to provide a location to guide the suture thread while inserting the suture anchor into the bone; and at least one locking wing extending radially from the shaft, the locking wing being provided on one side of a first plane, the first plane including the longitudinal axis of the suture anchor.

Abstract: A semi-stationary balloon in the gastric antrum provided with an anchoring rod for inducing weight reduction in human beings is disclosed, a device for inducing a lesser appetite and early prandial satiety, said balloon being made of inflatable per-os medical grade silicone having a volume of up to 240 ml, with an average space of 120 ml to be filled with non-elastic fluid provided with radio-opaque contrast and dye, preferably methylene blue, so that the maximum diameter of 8 cm is reached after it is filled up with a volume of up to 240 ml and the average diameter of 6 cm with a volume of 120 ml, to be endoscopically placed inside the stomach (E); said intra-gastric balloon (1) being positioned in a semi-stationary way in the gastric antrum (GAC) and provided with an anchoring or duodenal rod (2) having a distal counter-weight (5) installed in the duodenum (D); particularly, the inner face of the pear-shaped medium portion of lesser diameter is coated with a malleable ribbon (f) that provides said balloon (

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement in connection with a feedback control system, the arrangement comprising a controllable device (10), a measuring device (7), a controlling device (9) and a user interface by which the controlling device (9) can be monitored by means of set values. The measuring device (7) is adapted to measure a measuring value (8) from a measuring point, which measuring value is dependent on the operation of the controllable device and the controlling device (9) is adapted to monitor the controllable device (10) on the basis of the measuring value and set values. To improve safety, the arrangement comprises means (15a, 15b, 15c) adapted to feed a reference signal (16) to the measuring device (7) periodically.

Abstract: In a link device for surgical tool and a surgical tool suitable for used with an endoscope, the diameter of an insertion section can be made narrow. A multi-free forceps (surgical tool) is used as a soft surgical tool for use with an endoscope. The multi-free forceps comprises a link device for surgical tool that is inserted into a human cavity. The link device for surgical tool comprises a pipe-like insertion section, a surgical section that connects to a tip of the insertion section, and a control section that controls the surgical section. A base side of a deviating link member is securely connected to a first control axis member, and a base side of the deviating link member that forms the surgical section side extends in parallel to the first control axis member at a position that is further to the inside than the outer peripheral face of the insertion section, while deviating further to the outside of the diameter direction than the central axis of the first control axis member.

Abstract: Systems and methods convey a closure material into a catheter, e.g., to seal a puncture site in a blood vessel. The closure material comprises a mixture of first and second components, which, upon mixing, undergo a reaction to form solid closure material composition. The first component may be a lyophilized polyethylene glycol (PEG) material contained within a vial. The second component may be a buffered albumin solution plus water contained within a syringe. An applicator provides easy and effective mixing of the components and delivery of the mixture to the puncture site.

Abstract: To improve administration of powdered pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical powder cartridge (1) for powder inhalers for holding a pharmaceutical depot for a large number of pharmaceutical powder doses is proposed, having at least one storage space (6) and an integrated metering device, said integrated metering device comprising at least one metering slide (9, 13, 14) which can be moved approximately transversely in a metering slide channel (12) at least from a filling position to an emptying position, approximately transversely with respect to the direction of flow of the pharmaceutical powder out from the at least one storage space (6), said metering slide channel (12) with the at least one metering slide (9, 13, 14) being sealed off from the environment at least in the filling position of the metering slide (9, 13, 14), and also further measures and a corresponding inhaler.

Abstract: A system controls and manages administration of a therapeutic gas, such as NO, O2, or the like, to a patient. The system includes an equalizing valve and a reservoir.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods related to endoscopic surgery, particularly related to robotic surgical operations, provide a tissue stabilizer for endoscopically stabilizing a target tissue within a patient's body. For stabilizing a beating heart during a closed-chest coronary artery bypass grafting procedure, a stabilizer is inserted through an endoscopic cannula and provides sufficient surface area to contact the heart and effectively stabilize the target tissue area. The stabilizer can straddle a blood vessel, such as a coronary artery, which is targeted for an anastomosis. Vessel occlusion fasteners may occlude the target blood vessel prior to the anastomosis procedure.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide indicator for receiving gas containing carbon dioxide and for providing a visible indication of the presence of carbon dioxide in the gas, the indicator includes a connector for removably connecting the indicator to a source of gas containing carbon dioxide and which connector is for communicating at least a portion of such gas to the indicator. The carbon dioxide indicator may be a disk indicator and the connector may be a male luer or a locking male luer. The carbon dioxide indicator may include removable ultraviolet radiation shielding permitting the carbon dioxide indicator to be preassembled to a patient's respiratory or breathing circuits or to a resuscitator.

Abstract: A surgical ring, designed to be implanted around biological organs comprising a pouch or a duct, so as, on the one hand, to form a closed loop between these two extremities (1, 2), thus forming a first (1) and a second (2) extremity and, on the other hand, to reduce the diameter of the opening of the organ when it is tightened by the ring, the ring including a system for reversibly controlling the variation in its diameter. The system also includes a flexible filiform element (4), inserted longitudinally with possibility of sliding into the material constituting the body of the ring between the first (1) and second (2) extremities, so as to define a fixed portion (5) connected to the first extremity (1) and a free portion (7) associated with an actuator (8) mounted on the ring near the second extremity (2).

Abstract: A surgical crimping instrument for crimping a sleeve including an anvil and a hammer moveable relative to each other to crimp the sleeve, a pusher movable longitudinally and engaging the hammer and/or anvil for urging the hammer and the anvil together as the pusher moves longitudinally from a first position to a second position, and cooperative stops adjacent to the hammer and the anvil for limiting the relative movement of the hammer towards the anvil.

Abstract: A nebulizer and a method of breathing using the nebulizer is described. The nebulizer and breathing techniques are capable of delivering medicament into the sinus cavity of a user.

Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.