Abstract: A stent for occluding the human ductus arteriosus comprises a length of wire of shape memory effect or superelastic material which is expandable from a relatively straightened state for introduction into the patient to an occluding state wherein the wire defines an occluding anchor part and a spiral anchor part and a straight linking part connecting the two wherein the wire has a series of turns extending over the cross-sectional area of the occluding anchor part.

Abstract: A fluid operated retractor for use in surgery. The retractor has a portion that is expandable upon the introduction of fluid under pressure. The expandable portion is made of a material strong enough, and is inflated to enough pressure, to spread adjoining tissues within the body. The retractor is especially useful in fiber optic surgery because it can be inserted percutaneously through a small opening then expanded to a much larger dimension when in the desired location, to retract tissue from within. The retractor may be used to spread a joint, such as a knee joint or shoulder joint, or may be used to separate tissue planes generally, to improve visualization and create a working space for the surgeon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having an improved balloon waist design in which material is removed prior to thermal processing. In one embodiment, a series of patterned voids are formed in the balloon waist to reduce the amount of polymeric material and to better control flowing polymeric material during thermal processing.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter includes at least an inner and outer body, and a specially shaped balloon affixed near one end of both of the inner and outer bodies. At least the outer body is tubular, and the space between the outer and inner bodies defines an inflation lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon. The balloon is designed to surround and hold a compressed self-expanding stent in a small initial size. An inner portion of the cylindrical balloon extends from where it is affixed to the inner body of the catheter shaft at a point proximal to the stent to a distal leading edge at a point distal to the stent. At this leading edge, the balloon is folded back upon itself, and an outer portion of the balloon extends proximally from the leading edge to a point proximal of the stent where it is affixed to the outer body of the catheter shaft. When the outer body is retracted in the proximal direction, the balloon progressively peels back or everts, to progressively release the stent.

Abstract: A stent including a plurality of loops, each of the loops includes an arcuately formed wire with a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to an inner elongate member and the second end being attached to an outer elongate member, the inner and the outer elongate members being arranged to slide with respect to each other along a common longitudinal axis, wherein sliding of the inner and the outer elongate members with respect to each other changes a cross-sectional area of each of the loops, characterized in that the inner and outer elongate members are attached to inner and outer coupler tubes, and are selectively releasable from the inner and outer coupler tubes, the inner coupler tube being nested inside the outer coupler tube.

Abstract: A trocar has a projection portion which is a part of a tube projecting from a distal end portion of an outer tube in the state in which the tube is inserted in the outer tube, an amount of projection of the projection portion from the distal end portion of the outer tube varying in accordance with relative movement of the tube and the outer tube.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided in which the cannula is reciprocally mounted to the cannula housing and reciprocates into the cannula housing when a proximally directed force is applied thereto. The piercing tip is maintained in the exposed position by a latching mechanism associated with the obturator shaft, and is automatically withdrawn into the cannula under the force of a spring when the proximal force is removed from the cannula, the cannula thus advancing distally and releasing the latching mechanism. Penetration force is maintained at a minimum, and safe and efficacious trocar entry is facilitated.

Abstract: A needle is guided to a target along a pre-determined needle insertion trajectory. A method that utilizes a fluoroscope can be used to locate the target. The target can be an internal structure within the human body. A device can be used with the fluoroscope to aim and insert a needle or sharp probe along the predetermined trajectory to the target. By using the device with the fluoroscope, a user can receive real time visual confirmation of contact between the needle and the target.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a medical device, such as an endoscopic device, configured to be loaded into a channel of an endoscope prior to insertion of the endoscope into a body, and a method of performing an operative procedure with an endoscopic device. The endoscopic device comprises an elongate member for insertion into the channel of the endoscope, wherein a length of the elongate member is greater than a length of the channel of the endoscope. The endoscopic device also comprises a distal assembly connected to a distal portion of the elongate member and operable to perform an endoscopic operation, wherein the distal assembly has an open configuration and a closed configuration with a profile larger than a diameter of the channel of the endoscope, wherein the distal assembly is adapted to be exterior to the channel when the endoscope is inserted into the body.

Abstract: A device for snaring cord-like objects is provided. The device comprises a hollow shaft having a pointed distal end, a rod having a pair of wires attached to its distal end, the wires being spring biased away from one another, and activation means. The rod and wires are located in the lumen of the shaft in reciprocally movable relationship therewith. The activation means is attached to the proximal ends of the shaft and the rod so as to allow the controlled movement of the rod and wires relative to the shaft. One of the wire-like elements defines a hook-shaped configuration at its distal end. The device allows the wire-like elements to be selectively located within the distal end of the shaft or in a configuration wherein the wire-like elements extend outwardly from the distal end of the shaft in flaring relationship to one another.

Abstract: Vaso-occlusive devices are provided for occluding an aneurysm within the human vasculature. The vaso-occlusive device also includes a stretch-resisting member that extends through at least a portion of a lumen of the primary coil and is directly or indirectly attached to the primary coil at two locations axially separated from each other to prevent or minimize axial stretching of the primary coil. At one location, the stretch-resisting member is coupled to the primary coil via a flexible anchor assembly disposed within the lumen. In one embodiment, the anchor assembly may comprise an anchor coil and a link directly or indirectly coupled between the anchor coil and the stretch-resisting member. Alternatively, the anchor assembly may comprise a chain of twisted links.

Abstract: A surgical device for cutting substantially across a cornea of an eye of a patient, the device including a positioning ring to be attached to an eye surrounding a cornea to be cut, and defining an aperture sized to receive and expose the cornea to be cut. The surgical device further includes a cutting head assembly structured to be guided and driven over an upper surface of the positioning ring in a generally arcuate path, and having a cutting element positioned therein and structured to oscillate laterally to facilitate smooth and effective cutting of the cornea. The cutting head assembly is structured to be detachably coupled to the positioning ring by a coupling member which permits movement of the cutting head assembly relative to the positioning ring along the generally arcuate path, but maintains sufficient engagement therebetween to ensure that smooth, steady, driven movement is maintained.

Abstract: A bioprosthetic stent graft is disclosed, having a stent frame and a biomaterial sheath suturelessly bonded to the stent frame. Sutureless bonding avoids sutures and substantially reducing medical complications in implantation of the stent graft. A device and method for manufacturing the stent graft further is disclosed. A mandrel is employed for shaping the stent graft, and means for irradiating the biomaterial effects sutureless bonding.

Abstract: A hydraulic stent and stent graft delivery system utilizing at least two different structural materials to effectuate the easy retention and release of the stent and stent graft, while maintaining structural and sealing integrity for a pressurizable fluid chamber. An anti kinking spacer is disclosed which prevents buckling/kinking of the otherwise unsupported sheath containment section when the catheter assembly is bent such as for insertion a movement to the delivery site. A configuration according to the invention provides a flexible small or dual diameter delivery system that uses fluid pressure within the catheter to retract the stent/stent graft containment sheath and allow the delivery and deployment of the stent/stent graft.

Abstract: A trocar system is provided which preferably includes a cannula having an elongate cannula body. The cannula body includes medial and distal portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portion thereof connected to the medial portion and having a second diameter. The second diameter is preferably larger or greater than the first diameter. A trocar having an elongate trocar body also extends through the cannula. The elongate trocar body has a sharpened distal end portion, a medial portion thereof having a first diameter, and a proximal portion having a second diameter. The second diameter is preferably larger or greater than the first diameter.

Abstract: A surgical method of corneal reformation reduces the risk of trauma and shortens overall recovery while yielding improved visual acuity includes making a relatively shallow incision of no more than about 85 microns deep into the corneal epithelium, separating the corneal epithelial sheet from the underlying Bowman's Membrane using an epithelial separator or a specialized cannula, and lifting the epithelial sheet away from the ablation zone so that the Bowman's Membrane and underlying stromal bed can be reformed. Multiple surgical instruments include the optional use of vibration with an epithelial separator or cannula to separate an epithelial sheet from the cornea of no more than about 85 microns thick.

Abstract: A vascular or endoluminal stent is adapted for deployment in a vessel or tract of a patient to maintain an open lumen. The stent constitutes a scaffold formed from a single open-ended tube having a multiplicity of through-holes in its wall. The through-holes are defined by a plurality of struts that bound the holes. Each of the struts has an optimized cross-section of oval shape with a long diameter generally aligned with the length or circumference of the tube wall and a short diameter generally aligned with the thickness of the tube wall. The oval shape of the struts provide several advantages including enhancing flexibility of the stent, easing advancement of the stent through a lumen of the vessel or tract for deployment at a target site therein, protecting the balloon of a balloon catheter on which the stent is tightly crimped, and enhancing expansion of the stent during deployment while maintaining its capability to withstand compression in response to recoil of the vessel or tract following deployment.

Abstract: Described is a sucking device with a sucking body as well as a shaft, whereby the sucking body is equipped with a recess extending in longitudinal direction of the sucking device. Said sucking device is designed in such manner that the recess, seen in longitudinal section, terminates essentially flat toward the anterior free end of the sucking body. The recess preferably extends essentially over the entire length of the sucking body. In sectional view, the shaft preferably presents an angulated shape. From a jaw-orthopedic aspect, this sucking device proves itself as particularly beneficial, whereby it simultaneously stimulates the baby/small child to uniform sucking and/or serves for position of repose.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter comprises a tubular catheter body having a balloon structure removably mounted over the catheter body. The catheter body has a guidewire lumen, and the catheter body may be left in place within a patient's vasculature while the balloon structure is withdrawn and optionally a second balloon structure introduced over the catheter body. The catheter and methods of the present invention are particularly suitable for performing angioplasty and subsequent procedures, such as stent placement, which are best performed using successive interventional balloon structures.

Abstract: An improved arterial catheter device for capturing emboli within the aorta and other arteries is described. The system typically includes an elongated catheter member bearing a filtration apparatus disposed at its the distal region, comprising a filter membrane and a mechanism for deploying and collapsing the filter. For reliable deployment, the deployment mechanism comprises at least one pair of struts, one being a compression strut and the other a tension strut. In use, the catheter is positioned so that the filter membrane is down stream from the possible embolic source and upstream from any vital organs of concern. When deployed the filter membrane will capture emboli from the blood stream, and upon filter removal will extract the emboli from the patient.