Abstract: This application is directed to a stent delivery system for introducing a flexible, generally cylindrical, self-expandable stent.

Abstract: Balloons are shaped and adapted for use in hollow body orifices. The balloons can be inflated and expanded within the body cavity in such a way as to prevent bleeding in the area, to apply pressure to the area or to allow application of medicine in the region. Each of these application can be performexd without disturbing bodily functioning in the area of application.

Abstract: A curette having a variably angled handle includes a curette member which has a disc shaped end. The disc shaped end has a hole through its center and a series of discrete angular graduations on its edge. The disc shaped end is retained via a pin in a recess in the proximal end of a handle. The handle includes an axial bore through which a shaft extends into selective contact with the graduations on the disc shaped end of the curette member. The curette may be angularly positioned relative to the handle if the shaft is selectively disengaged from its contact with the graduations of the disc shaped end of the curette member, but not once the shaft has engaged the graduations. The shaft may be selectively engaged by a variety of different ways, including spring biasing, threading and having a selectively extendable handle.

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--discriminating, rotating, fragmenting handpiece. The surface--discriminating fragmenting handpiece fragments and permits aspiration of the tissue without damaging the surrounding wall by fragmenting surfaces of higher inertia material but moving at a rate of speed and having openings between them of such a size that the more integrated lower mass, more flexible and smoother tissue is moved away from the fragmenting zone and the higher mass, lower flexibility or rougher tissue is fragmented.

Abstract: A dispensing pacifier apparatus includes a dispenser assembly which includes a flexible container portion and a screw cap assembly which is removably connected to the flexible container portion. The flexible container portion includes a loading end and a dispensing end. The loading end receives the screw cap assembly, and the dispensing end includes one or more dispensing channels. A guard assembly is connected to the dispenser assembly and includes a perimeter portion which surrounds the dispenser assembly. The guard assembly is connected to the dispenser assembly adjacent to the loading end of the flexible container portion in a position below the screw cap assembly. The guard assembly includes a front side and a rear side. A plurality of saliva-absorbent apertures are located on the front side of the guard assembly. The guard assembly includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and a greater density of saliva-absorbent apertures are located on the bottom portion than the top portion.

Abstract: An improved trocar is provided. The trocar includes a shaft having a first end and a second end with a bend therebetween. An attachment fixture is integral with the shaft at the first end. A concave cutting edge is formed at the second end.

Abstract: A device for applying permanent pigment, such as in a tattooing procedure, which has a disposable needle coupler which couples the needle to the device. The device has a housing which is structured to allow easy user access to the internal parts that are likely to be exposed to contamination from the tattooing procedure. The needle coupler is structured to allow easy manipulation to detach it from or attach it to the device without require the use or tools. The pigment applicator device may be a manual device or an electro-mechanically driven device. In the latter, the needle coupler is detachably coupled to a drive mechanism for actuating reciprocal axial movement of the needle via the needle coupler. The drive mechanism may include a cam for translating a rotational motion into a reciprocal axial motion of the needle coupler.

Abstract: The BTR device of the present invention preferably comprises a housing chamber with an attached hand grip and actuating ringlet positioned to be grasped and pulled toward the hand grip. Inside the housing chamber is a hollow, open-ended, helically-slotted cylindrical element having a diagonal groove formed within the outer surface. A travelling pin, attached to the actuating ringlet, is fitted within the diagonal groove such that movement of the actuating ringlet simultaneously moves the travelling pin and rotates the helically-slotted cylindrical element. Gear teeth on the helically-slotted cylindrical element engage gear teeth on an inner shaft element rotatably positioned within the helically-slotted cylindrical element such that rotation of the helically-slotted cylindrical element is transferred to the inner shaft element.

Abstract: A stent comprising a wire skeletal frame, the frame being adapted to assume a first condition in which the frame is relatively rigid and substantially tubular in configuration and a second condition in which the frame is flexible, of reduced stress, and collapsible, such that in the second condition walls of the frame are adapted to be positioned against each other to form a stent diameter substantially equal to the combined thickness of the frame walls in abutting engagement with each other, the frame in its second condition being substantially devoid of bias therein urging the frame to assume the first configuration.

Abstract: An elastic band ligation device for treatment of hemorrhoids permits a doctor to band hemorrhoidal tissue without an assistant and does not have to be attached to an aspirator. The device has the capability of suctioning tissue into a tubular member before banding. A plastic inner tubular member retains a stretched elastic band over a front end of an inner tubular member which extends for a sufficient length for insertion into the rectum of a patient. A plunger in the tubular member may be slid backwards to draw a suction in the tubular member to draw tissue in through the front end. A plastic outer pusher sleeve fits over the tubular member and is adapted to push the elastic band off the front end of the tubular member to capture the hemorrhoidal tissue drawn into the tubular member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a removable cardiovascular stent, an apparatus for the retrieval of the stent and a method for removal of the stent. The removable stent includes radially inwardly extending engagement members for contacting an extraction catheter. The extraction catheter includes a tubular body and an axially moveable guidewire, each adapted to grasp the engagement members of the tubular stent. The stent is elongated in an axial direction thereby reducing the cross-sectional area of the stent. The stent can be removed directly, or can fit within the tubular body of the extraction catheter for atraumatic removal from the treatment location.

Abstract: A seal assembly is provided which includes a gimbal-like structure permitting rotation of a mounting member relative to the housing. The rotation of the mounting member allows the seal member to align with an instrument being inserted therethrough. The seal assembly is adapted to be detachably mounted to a cannula assembly for use in endoscopic surgery.

Abstract: A coated microporous stent and method of coating are disclosed. The inventive stent consists of a tubular member made from a flat sheet assembled together in a tube with the ends of the sheet assembled together through a technique such as surface fusing. Preferably, the stent is made up of a plurality of spaced rows of slots with spaces between adjacent slots within a row staggered with respect to corresponding spaces on adjacent rows. In a first embodiment of a coated stent, a coating is attached to the stent only at a single area of line contact on the outer surface of the stent with the remainder of the coating being larger than the unexpanded stent, but being made of dimensions designed to snugly receive the outer surfaces of the stent when it is expanded within a blood vessel.

Abstract: A tubular stent is disclosed that is made of a series of bands having a generally tubular shape with an open end. Each band has an open rectangular form made of an elongated material. The bands have the open ends (or interruptions) in an offset manner and each band has crosstie or ties which are either rigid or flexible. Ties, even if they are straight, can be disposed close to each other, or further away from each other, and can vary in number in order to adjust the relative stiffness of the stent. Each of the bands are preferably a generally rectangular shape and can be made from a wire of a variety of different cross-sections, or can be cut from a flat sheet, or burned out of a cylindrical shape.

Abstract: An medical device with hook like bristles suitable for capturing occlusive material. The device is inserted to a patient's vasculature and moved through an area of occlusion in such a way as to dislodge and capture the material causing the occlusion.

Abstract: A tubular intraluminal graft in the form of a tubular diametrically adjustable stent having a tubular covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene which is less than 0.10 mm thick. The covering may be on the exterior surface of the stent, or on the interior surface of the stent, or both. The covering may be affixed to the stent by an adhesive which is preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Abstract: A cable comprising helically wound superelastic fibers and having a drilling tip provided at its distal end is housed in an elongated holder through which the cable may be advanced, the holder having a distal end for supporting the cable during a drilling operation and through which the distal end of the cable may protrude. The holder includes contains a cable support shaped to bend the cable through a predetermined angle adjacent its distal end and to support the cable as it is rotated and advanced. A motor is attached to the cable remote from the distal end of the cable to rotate the cable in a direction tending to tighten the cable fibers.

Abstract: A scar-reducing frame structure of the type for preventing motion relative to a healing cut in a person's skin of skin the region of the cut. The frame is conformable and attachable to the person's skin, and has an open area which encompasses the cut. The frame is substantially rigid in the plane of the frame so as to substantially prevent motion of the skin within the open area relative to the cut to allow the cut to heal without scarring. The frame includes an adhesive layer for fixedly attaching the frame to the skin. The adhesive layer is waterproof and provides for secure attachment of the frame to the skin, and allows the frame structure to be removed for purposes of replacement or when healing of the cut is complete.

Abstract: An infant-feeding nipple and an infant-feeding nipple system in which the nipple may be used conventionally on a baby bottle or used in conjunction with an elongate conduit connected between the nipple and a container holding liquid to be drunk by the infant. The nipple has a radially enlarged flange on its base end, with a rigid safety ring insert which prevents the flange from being pulled from beneath the cap holding the nipple to a bottle, and which prevents the nipple from being swallowed by an infant when the nipple is detached from a container. In one form of the invention, the nipple has a flexible transverse wall across its base end, with a central opening therethrough for receiving one end of an elongate conduit whose other end may be extended into a container of liquid to be drunk by the infant. Different diameter conduits may be connected to the nipple.

Abstract: A topical hyperbaric therapy device is provided for treating skin disorders and for administering pressurized therapeutic gas (e.g., hyperbaric oxygen) to an afflicted region of a patient's skin. In particular, the topical hyperbaric therapy device of the present invention comprises an inflatable and generally toroidal-shaped tube having a top portion, a bottom portion, and an open interior portion. In addition, a pliable pad member is sealably joined to the bottom portion of the tube. In use, the pliable pad member and the open interior portion of the tube define an enclosed chamber when the tube is inflated and top portion of the tube is sealably constrained against the patient's skin. The topical hyperbaric therapy device also includes an inlet port for supplying pressurized therapeutic gas to the enclosed chamber, and an outlet port for venting pressurized therapeutic gas from the enclosed chamber once the pressure therein becomes greater than a predetermined level.