Abstract: A clot and foreign body removal device is described which comprises a catheter with at least one lumen. Located within the catheter is a clot capture coil that is connected to an insertion mandrel. In one embodiment, the clot capture coil is made out of a solid elastic or superelastic material which has shape memory, preferably nitinol. The elasticity or superelasticity of the coil allows it to be deformed within the catheter and to then reform its original coil configuration when the coil is moved outside of the catheter lumen. In another embodiment the coil is a biphasic coil which changes shape upon heating or passing an electric current. Once the coil configuration has been established, the coil can be used to ensnare and corkscrew a clot in a vessel. A clot is extracted from the vessel by moving the clot capture coil and catheter proximally until the clot can be removed or released into a different vessel that does not perfuse a critical organ.

Abstract: An elastic band for ligating tissue within a living body comprises an inner tissue engaging surface which, when in an operative position within the body, surrounds and directly contacts the tissue. At least a portion of the inner tissue engaging surface defines a plurality of discontinuities formed by one of projections and depressions. A method of ligating tissue within a living body using such a ligating band comprises the steps of positioning the elastic band, which has been stretched to increase the size of a central opening extending therethrough, adjacent to a portion of tissue to be ligated. The tissue to be ligated is then drawn through the central opening of the elastic band and the elastic band is released so that the size of the central opening decreases to grip the tissue received therein.

Abstract: A guidewire replacement device having an elongated catheter shaft with an inner lumen extending within the catheter shaft, a proximal guidewire port spaced at least 1 cm from the distal end of the catheter which is in fluid communication with the inner lumen and a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter which is also in fluid communication with the inner lumen. The proximal end of an in-place guidewire is inserted through the distal guidewire port and advanced through the inner lumen until the proximal end of the guidewire extends through the proximal guidewire port. The exchange device is advanced over the guidewire until the distal end of the exchange device is seated within the proximal guidewire port in the readily exchangeable dilatation catheter. With the distal end of the exchange device well seated within the proximal guidewire port of the dilatation catheter, the in-place guidewire can be withdrawn from the patient.

Abstract: A medical device for placing a very small embolic coil at a preselected location within a vessel comprising a positioning catheter having a distal tip for retaining a headpiece with an attached embolic coil such that when the catheter is pressurized with a fluid the distal tip of the catheter expands outwardly to release the headpiece and coil at the preselected position. The headpiece has a passageway which extends through the headpiece to permit air to be purged from the catheter prior to insertion of the catheter into the vessel.

Abstract: A stent deployment system includes a tubular member having a first end and a second end and a generally longitudinal opening between the first and second ends. The tubular member has an inner periphery sized to receive a stent therein. A plurality of apertures are disposed on opposite sides of the generally longitudinal opening. An elongate retainer is removably receivable within the apertures to retain the stent in the tubular member and to release the stent from the tubular member when removed from the apertures.

Abstract: The stop element is set forth for solving a problem of the clinician only being able to visualize a depth marking on a drill bit or a similar tool. The detachable stop element limits the penetration of the drill bit beyond a predetermined axial distance on the drill bit. The stop element consists of a connecting portion and an extending portion, both having an inner wall defining a bore extending entirely through the connecting portion and extending portions. The connecting portion has a surface that contacts the drill bit for restricting the axial movement of the stop element relative to the drill bit. The extending portion terminates in a lower end for engaging the bone surrounding the bore to limit the penetration of the drill bit. The stop element may include a plurality of grooves for altering its length so that the penetration depth of the drill bit can be altered.

Abstract: What is described here is an instrument for application in endoscopic surgery, comprising a shaft (10) including two forceps elements at its distal end which are operable independently of each other by operating elements (17), whereof one is pivotable about an axis at least approximately orthogonal on the longitudinal axis of the instrument and including at least one continuous passage (12) between the jaws of said two forceps elements. The inventive instrument is characterised by the provisions that the other forceps element is not pivotable, and that the pivotable jaw element or elements (16) of each forceps element are pivotable about axes (16a) which are each arranged approximately in parallel with the connecting line between the seizing regions of said forceps elements.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems wherein a penetrating catheter or other penetrating device is used to penetrate into a target blood vessel, and wherein the target vessel is dilated prior to the penetration so as to improve the imaging, aiming at and/or penetration into the target vessel. In one embodiment, a tissue penetrating catheter device that is useable to penetrate from a blood vessel in which it is positioned to a target vessel comprises a flexible catheter advanceable into the first blood vessel and a tissue penetrator lumen adapted to receive an operative tissue penetrator which is usable to penetrate from the blood vessel to the target vessel when properly aimed. An imaging transducer may be fixedly mounted on or within the penetrating catheter to provide an imaging signal from which an image of the target vessel can be obtained.

Abstract: A scalpel having a blade with a fitting molded about or assembled to its proximal end with the fitting having a proximally facing opening sized to receive an end of a distal portion of a detachable handle. The handle includes a proximal portion designed to be gripped by the surgeon and a distal portion including a male coupling half designed to be received within the proximal opening of the fitting, which proximal opening is configured as a female coupling half. The proximal and distal portions of the handle are angled with respect to one another defining an angle from about 0°-10°. The male coupling half may be inserted within the female coupling half in either one of two diametrically opposed orientations. Thus, due to the angulation between the proximal portion of the handle and the distal portion of the handle, the proximal portion of the handle is either angled downwardly or upwardly with respect to the axis of the blade itself.

Abstract: A bone-modification device includes a plurality of cutting guides, wherein at least one of the guides is used to resect or otherwise modify a bone to receive a prosthetic element of a particular size, and one or more additional guides to modify or resect the bone in conjunction with a prosthetic element of a different size. In one disclosed example, the guides are configured to resect a distal femur so as to receive a femoral prosthesis in conjunction with knee-replacement surgery, wherein a plurality of guide sets are provided for anterior, posterior, and associated chamfer cuts for a plurality of differently sized femoral prosthesis. In this instance, the guide preferably features one or more sets of spaced-apart saw-receiving slots, including a first slot to resect the bone to receive a femoral prosthesis of a first size, and a second slot to resect the bone to receive a femoral prosthesis of a second size, different from the first.

Abstract: The knife has a handle with a blade attached to one end of the handle. The blade has two opposite sides and two edges extending from the handle to a forward cutting edge portion. The two edges are blunt and are non-cutting edges. In one embodiment, the forward cutting edge portion is formed by a pointed inverted V shaped cutting edge extending forward of two outwardly extending straight cutting edges on opposite sides of the base of the pointed inverted V shaped cutting edge with the point of the pointed inverted V shaped cutting edge being located along the centerline of the blade. The outwardly extending cutting edges are transverse to the centerline. In another embodiment, the cutting edge portion is formed by a first edge portion transverse the centerline of the blade and an angled portion located next to one of the non-cutting edges. The angled portion forms an obtuse angle relative to the first edge portion and which extends forward of the first edge portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to bistable cells and their use in devices, particularly medical devices such as stents, clamps and valves. An expandable stent formed of a plurality of bistable cells is described. The stent has two or more stable configurations, including a first stable configuration with a first diameter and a second stable configuration with a second, larger diameter. A valve comprising a bistable cell for use in eliminating incontinence is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved vascular incisor and method for allowing a user to safely create an incision in a body lumen. The present invention provides an apparatus which can create an incision in a front wall of the ascending aorta while preventing the blade from creating an incision in surrounding body structures, such as the back wall of the ascending aorta. The incisor includes a surgical element such as a blade which is activated by an actuator. As the actuator is depressed, the blade is moved from a protected, retracted position to an exposed, deployed position. The exposed blade is pushed into a front wall of the ascending aorta to create an incision. As the actuator is depressed further, the blade is automatically moved to the retracted position to prevent the blade from incising the back wall of the aorta.

Abstract: A clot and foreign body removal device is described which comprises a catheter with at least one lumen. Located within the catheter is a clot capture coil that is connected to an insertion mandrel. In one embodiment, the clot capture coil is made out of a solid elastic or superelastic material which has shape memory, preferably nitinol. The elasticity or superelasticity of the coil allows it to be deformed within the catheter and to then reform its original coil configuration when the coil is moved outside of the catheter lumen. In another embodiment the coil is a biphasic coil which changes shape upon heating or passing an electric current. Once the coil configuration has been established, the coil can be used to ensnare and corkscrew a clot in a vessel. A clot is extracted from the vessel by moving the clot capture coil and catheter proximally until the clot can be removed or released into a different vessel that does not perfuse a critical organ.

Abstract: A dermabrasion apparatus operating by a flow of air and reducing substances conveyed by a pneumatic system through a handpiece. The apparatus comprises a housing, a vacuum pump, and an external tray inside of which a mixing bottle and a collecting bottle are provided. The handpiece and the bottles are disposable sterilized components, and may be kept in a plastic bag for maintaining their sterility prior to use. The components may be subjected to gamma rays while in the plastic bag, in order to provide an additional level of sterilization.

Abstract: A stent delivery system which has a catheter including an inflatable portion. A stent being disposed about the inflatable portion of the catheter, the stent having a contracted state and an expanded state. A pair of stent retaining sleeves which are partially composed of PTFE, each sleeve having a first end portion overlying a respective end of the stent, each sleeve having a second end portion respectively attached to the catheter, the sleeves retaining the stent to the catheter when the stent is in the contracted state, the stent being freed from the sleeves when the stent is placed in the expanded state. The sleeves being placed on the stent by heat shrinking. The inflatable portion of the balloon optionally having stepped compliant characteristics.

Abstract: An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, so increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.

Abstract: A tissue graft construct and method for repairing the inner linings of damaged or diseased vertebrate vessels is described. The method comprises the steps of positioning a tissue graft construct within a blood vessel at a site in need of repair. The tissue graft construct comprises a stent (3) covered with submucosal tissue (4) wherein the stent (3) is formed for receiving the distal end of a catheter (1) having an inflatable balloon (2).

Abstract: A packaging system for an intraocular lens and optionally an additive material that can be used to insert a packaged intraocular lens into an eye through a relatively small incision. Methods for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye using such packaging system are within the scope of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is generally characterized in an angled rotary tissue cutting instrument including an outer blade assembly, having a rigid tubular member with proximal and distal portions connected by a bead, and an inner blade assembly rotatably disposed within the outer blade assembly and including a tubular drive shaft at a proximal end, a cutting tip at a distal end, and a flexible coupling disposed between the drive shaft and the cutting tip. The drive shaft and cutting tip include neck portions which are disposed telescopically within proximal and distal ends of the coupling.