Abstract: A surgical device is used for manually manipulating suture needles. The device is formed of two elongate members hinged together. On one side of the hinge, the elongate members form a pair of jaws which are relatively moveable. One the other end of the elongate members there are handles formed which allow the user to manipulate the jaws about the hinge. An arcuate shield is integral with one of the jaws at its center. The shield extends laterally and arcuately from the jaw and covers the opposing jaw. The placement of the shield is such that a needle which is held between the jaws is protected from sticking any one or anything. The jaw members may be made up of several units forming segmented jaws.

Abstract: A scalpel includes a circular blade rotatably attached to one end of a handle. A circular depth guard having a diameter smaller than that of the blade is rigidly and coaxially connected thereto. The depth guard includes tractional knurls arranged around a rim thereof. Pressing the blade into a piece of tissue causes penetration thereinto until the depth guard engages the tissue. Pulling the scalpel along the tissue causes the depth guard to roll along thereon and rotate the blade, which makes a cut with a rolling motion that minimizes tissue adhesion and dragging for a smooth and even incision. The depth guard ensures that the blade cuts at a precisely known and perfectly even depth. The tractional knurls ensure reliable rotation of the depth guard and the blade even on wet and slippery tissue. In a second embodiment, a rotary depth guard is attached to a fixed blade. In both a third and a fourth embodiment, a circular rotary blade and a circular rotary depth guard are eccentrically mounted.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes a proximal single lumen shaft and a multilumen distal portion on which an inflatable balloon is mounted. The lumen of the shaft acts as a combined inflation lumen and guide wire lumen. In the multilumen distal portion, a distal inflation lumen connects the combined lumen with the interior of the balloon, while the distal guide wire lumen extends through the balloon to provide a passage for a guide wire.

Abstract: A compression apparatus for synthetic induction of bloodlessness at an extremity of the patient or for intravenous local anesthesia can have automatic blood pressure measurement controlling a microprocessor which regulates the valve leading to the compression sleeve automatically. Upon a failure of the automatic control system, a manual pressure control valve is brought into play and allows manual adjustment of the compression pressure in the sleeve.

Abstract: A hypodermic fluid dispenser and a collapsible body for the hypodermic fluid, with a hypodermic needle injecting the fluid once sufficient pressure is applied to collapse the body. There is also disclosed an electrical hypodermic fluid dispenser having a reusable, rechargeable power source, and a reservoir from which hypodermic fluid can be withdrawn for injection through a single injection orifice.

Abstract: A manual device for self-application of acupressure by a user, comprises a substantially "J"-shaped rigid frame having a first tip at one end for application of pressure to specific points of the user's body and a handle at the other end. The first tip is adapted to be placed on the back portions of the user while the frame is substantially transverse to the user's body. The handle is adapted to be grabbed by the user such that a pushing force imparted to the handle away from the user's body transmits pressure to the first tip.

Abstract: Apparatus in the form of a trocar adapted for penetration of the wall of a blood vessel, such as the ascending aorta, contains an inflatable diaphragm carried in a collapsed condition within the interior of the trocar and an appropriate fluid connection of the diaphragm to a source of inflating fluid effects the expansion of the diaphragm and release from the trocar into occluding relation with the blood vessel wall to obstruct the flow of blood through the occluded passage.

Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a cannula, a trocar needle fitted in a lumen of the cannula, a cannula-retaining member having a through-hole for inserting the cannula therein and being provided at a bottom thereof with an adhesive layer for fixing the cannula in place on the skin of a patient. The cannula is adapted to be held in the retaining member by engaging elements between them to permit the cannula to move forward continuously or continually through the through-hole of the retaining member as well as to fix the cannula in a desired position.

Abstract: A phosphorescent ophthalmic instrument for fixating a patient's eye during an ophthalmic procedure. The instrument includes a fixation structure attachable to the patient's eye, at least a portion of the fixation ring being made from a phosphorescent material. This material, visible to the physician after exposure to incident visible light when substantially all room (and operating) lights are turned off, enables the physician to visualize the location of the fixation ring in a dark operating environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to anvil shears for surgical purposes, particularly for laparoscopic operations. The shears have an anvil (10) and a blade (40) pivotably fitted thereto, which is closed against the anvil by means of an operating rod (30) displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the shears. For improving the cutting action, according to the invention the blade (40) is displaceably mounted on the anvil in its longitudinal direction (41) and is subject to the action of a force forcing the blade into the distal advanced position. The force exerted for closing the blade (40) with the operating rod (30) is opposed by the pretensioning force (54), so that on encountering a material to be cut a cutting movement is performed in the longitudinal direction (41) of the blade.

Abstract: A piercing tip for penetrating body tissue is provided which includes a conical body and a triangular cutting blade positioned within a slot formed in the conical body. The cutting blade includes a proximal mounting flange which extends outwardly from the conical body and is configured for mounting at the distal end of an obturator of a trocar assembly.

Abstract: A piercing tip for penetrating body tissue is provided which includes a conical body and a triangular cutting blade positioned within a slot formed in the conical body. The piercing tip is particularly adapted for mounting at the distal end of an obturator and for use as part of a trocar assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively treating a targeted portion of internal body tissue of a patient by providing an internal electrode at a point adjacent the tissue to be treated and electrodes external to the patient's body. Fluid containing Ionic molecules is supplied to a location between the internal electrode and the external electrodes and an electric field radiating outwardly from the internal electrode to the external electrodes is created so that said fluid flows outwardly away from said internal electrode into the tissue to be treated.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating tissue in response to a stimulus generated by the tissue. In one embodiment, the method transdermally treats an organism in response to a stimulus. In this embodiment, the medication is applied to epidermis of the organism, and the epidermis is electroporated in response to a stimulus, whereby the medication passes through the epidermis at a rate sufficient to alter the stimulus, thereby transdermally treating the organism. In another embodiment, the method measures a blood component content of blood. A portion of epidermis is electroporated to cause an aqueous fluid to be directed through an electroporated epidermis to a surface of the epidermis. Thereafter, the blood component content of the aqueous fluid is measured for correlation with a known aqueous fluid blood component content associated with a known concentration of blood component in the blood. The blood component concentration of the blood can thereby be measured.

Abstract: Endoscopic sewing instrument with a helical-needle which has one or more windings and is Positioned between at least two rolls which drive the needle and the thread in a rotary manner.

Abstract: A thermal ablation catheter includes an elongate body member having a heating element disposed over a predetermined length of its distal end or within an axial lumen. The heating element is suspended away from an exterior surface of the elongate member to form a circulation region thereunder. Alternatively, the heating element is distributed over some or all of the axial lumen. Thermally conductive fluid can be introduced through the lumen in the elongate member and into the circulation region to effect heat transfer. The catheter is used to introduce the thermally conductive medium to a hollow body organ where the heating element raises the temperature of the medium sufficiently to induce injury to the lining of the organ. Optionally, an expandable cage in the catheter or on an associated introducer sheath may be used in combination with a thermal ablation catheter.

Abstract: A laparoscopic irrigation system and bottle pump for controlling a source of gas pressure driving a source of irrigation solution that includes a monitor for monitoring the source of gas pressure and indicating when the gas pressure falls below a predetermined value. Also, the liquid level of the source of irrigation solution is monitored via infrared radiation and when the level falls to a predetermined value it is detected, a visual and an audible signal is actuated and an alternative source of irrigation solution is selected. Further the level of gas pressure driving the source of irrigation solution is controllable with an electronic circuit containing a stepping motor mechanically connected to a pressure regulator.

Abstract: The osteosynthetic fixation element (10) in the form of a pedicular screw or a vertebral column hook has a lower section (2) that can be anchored into a bone and an upper section (3) connected in the direction of its longitudinal axis (1), that is completely penetrated transversely by a penetration channel (8) running transversely to the longitudinal axis (1) for acceptance of a longitudinal support (40). The upper section (3) is provided with an internal threading (5) and an external threading (9) to accept a locking part (30; 50) locking the longitudinal support (40). The upper section (3) is provided at its upper end (6) or at the inserted lock part (30; 50) with a rotationally-stable, releasable connecting mechanism (4, 5, 7; 11, 12) for positive and non-positive temporary acceptance of a manipulation device (20).

Abstract: A retractable surgical blade includes a handle defining a channel and a surgical blade member. The surgical blade member includes a body to which is secured a surgical blade. The body has a portion which engages the channel so that the surgical blade member can move from a cutting position in which the surgical blade projects from the handle and can be employed in a surgical procedure to a retracted position in which the surgical blade is disposed in the channel. When in the retracted position, the surgical blade is unable to cut or stab persons associated with the surgical procedure. The device further includes cooperating locking members on the handle and the body to position the surgical blade member in the desired position. An associated method of performing a surgical procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus formed of a flexible coil concentrically disposed around a flexible wire includes one or more radially expansible, helically configured wire loops. The loops grip deposits within a vessel and allow the deposits to be sheared from the interior wall of the vessel when the apparatus is withdrawn from within the vessel.