Abstract: A medical instrument for treating sinusitis has a body, an insert tube extending from a distal end of the body, and an angle portion extending from a distal end of the insert tube. The angle portion is bent by a remote control member mounted on the body, through a wire. A motor is mounted on the body. The medical instrument also has a brush. This brush has an elongated rotation transmission portion extending through the insert tube and the angle tube, and a brush portion attached to a distal end of the rotation transmission portion. A basal portion of the rotation transmission portion is connected to the motor. The brush portion is allowed to protect from a distal end of the angle tube. At least that portion of the rotation transmission portion extending through the angle tube is bendable. Therefore, when the motor is rotated in the state that the angle portion is bent, the brush portion is rotated.

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 portable power cutting tool is disclosed, having a plurality of replaceable tool assemblies for connection to the power cutting tool, with each tool assembly having a different cutting blade and a mode of motion selected for optimum operation of the cutting blade. Each tool assembly has a mode of motion selected from the group of rotation, reciprocation, and a combination of rotation and reciprocation. The tool assemblies can be disposable.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter including a proximal tubular member, preferably a proximal hypotube. The distal end of the proximal hypotube is connected to a transition tube which extends distally. The transition tube has a side port at a point intermediate to which the proximal end of a distal catheter shaft section is connected. The distal catheter shaft section extends distally through an inflatable balloon and forms a lumen extending from the port on the transition tube to the distal end of the catheter for slidably receiving a guide wire therein. The transition tube has a distal end which terminates proximally of the proximal end of the balloon. To provide for fluid communication between the transition tube and the interior of the balloon, inflation holes are provided in the distal catheter shaft section proximal to the distal end of the transition tube and within the balloon.

Abstract: A surgical needle holder is provided for guarding the tip of a needle in an inoperative position. The needle tip is guarded in the inoperative position in retaining means such as a groove or slot associated with the jaws of the needle holder.

Abstract: A stent, for example for maintaining the patency of a duct such as a biliary duct, is provided that includes a plurality of radially extending wings. The wings project from a core which has a guide wire or wire stylet lumen. Each of the wings preferably includes a plurality of minute, longitudinally extending grooves for bile flow even in the event of tumor ingrowth. Advantageously the core itself is preformed into a helical configuration.

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 telescoping slide assembly includes a latch blade pivotably mounted on an intermediate slide member, a latching lip on a stationary slide member, and a cam on a load-carrying slide member. The latch blade engages the latching lip automatically to block movement of the intermediate slide member relative to the stationary slide member toward a fully retracted position. The cam on the stationary slide member engages and pivots the latch blade to a position disengaging the latching lip in response to movement of the load-carrying slide member relative to the intermediate and stationary slide members toward a fully retracted position so that the intermediate slide member is released from latching engagement with the stationary slide member and free to move toward its fully retracted position.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter, such as a balloon catheter, and a method for use thereof, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having an inflation lumen extending therethrough, an implement, such as a dilation balloon, connected to and located at the distal portion of the shaft and communicating with the lumen, a small profile core wire extending through at least the dilation balloon and having a distal portion that extends distally from the dilation balloon through a distal core wire opening located distally of the balloon, and further in which the core wire is movable relative to the elongate shaft to allow withdrawal of the elongate shaft and the balloon while leaving the core wire positioned intravascularly, and a tip member connected to the core wire in a region thereof distal of the location at which the core wire extends distally of the core wire opening, the tip member having a profile larger than the opening.

Abstract: A surgical kit for performing trigger finger release surgery. A flexor tendon (T) passes through the palm (P) of a person's hand (H) to a finger (F) or thumb (B). Constriction of a protective sheath (E) around the tendon causes the trigger finger condition. For a person suffering from trigger finger, a path (1) of the impaired tendon is first identified. A puncture site is then located for insertion of one end of a hollow, curved cannula (1) into the palm. The cannula is pushed through the palm with a first puncture hole (U) being made where the instrument enters into the palm, and a second puncture hole (U') where the cannula exits from the palm. The cannula is routed through the palm such that the path (8) of the cannula passes through the sheath. The cannula is left in place and an arthroscope (9) and a surgical knife (11) are inserted into respective ends of the instrument. The surgeon views the surgical site through a monitor (10) to which the arthroscope is attached.

Abstract: A single use medical sharp device includes an outer sheath and a shank disposed in the sheath. The shank has a leading pointed end and a trailing handle end. The shank and the sheath are inter-engaged so that the shank has an extended operational position and a retracted safe position.

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 tissue punch for surgically cutting tissue is provided with an inner shaft having an opening with a cutting edge at its distal end, which collaborates with a counter cutting edge at the distal end of an outer shaft, so that during operation of the tissue punch tissue, which extends through the opening into the inner shaft, is separated by the two cutting edges moving against each other. The inner shaft is rigid and is straight in its proximal region but changes distally into a curved shape. The outer shaft, which moves axially on the inner shaft, is flexible at least in the area of the curve of the inner shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retrievable elastomeric stent, an apparatus for the insertion/retrieval of the stent and a method for insertion/retrieving the stent. The removable stent includes at least one proximal and at least one distal engagement element to allow the insertion/retrieval catheter to engage the stent for the application of axial force. The insertion/retrieval catheter includes a tubular body and an axially moveable guidewire, each adapted to engage the engagement elements of the tubular stent. When elongated in an axial direction, the stent is reduced in cross-sectional area. The stent can then be removed directly, or can fit within the tubular body of the extraction catheter for atraumatic removal from the treatment location. Further disclosed are configurations of the engagement elements to allow more precise manipulation of body lumen stents.

Abstract: A medical forceps has an elongated body, two handle elements at one side and two jaw parts at the other side of said elongated body. Actuating means serve for actuating said two jaw parts responsive to the movement of the two handle elements. The actuating means are designed in that within a first range of movement of said handle elements, said two jaw parts are pivoted together, and within a second range of movement of said handle elements, one of said two jaw parts is moved relative to the other one of said two jaw parts.

Abstract: A surgical suture clamp is provided with two clamp jaws positioned movably one in relation to the other in a forceps-like manner. It is formed as an endoscopable suture clamp to be inserted into the body through a trocar and provided with a leading tube, in the vicinity of the inner tube end of which, to be lead into the body, at least one clamp jaw is positioned to be pivotably driven in relation to the second clamp jaw. A drive is arranged in the portion of the outer tube end remaining outside the body and is coupled by way of a transmission with the at least one pivotably driven clamp jaw.

Abstract: The surgical knife of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical housing which has an external housing surface and one open end. A planar knife blade is support for axial movement within the housing so that one end of the knife blade can be extended beyond the open end of the housing. Means, which are well known in the art, are carried by the housing and connected to the knife blade to cause movement of the knife blade in an axial direction for extension beyond the open end. A raised surface is provided on the housing which has a cross section dissimilar to the cross section of the housing for use in preventing rotation of the knife to thereby orient the knife blade along a desired plane when the knife is supported on a surface. One embodiment of the surgical knife provides for the dissimilar cross section to be a square with four flat surfaces so that these surfaces can rest in a complimentary groove in a supporting tray of a knife blade setting device.

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: A stent is made of shape memory alloy which has an Austenite finished temperature ranging from 41.degree. C. to 43.degree. C. The stent is capable of adopting a first configuration at a temperature below the Af and a second expanded configuration at or above the Af. In the first configuration, the stent comprises a proximal cylindrical portion, a distal cylindrical portion. The two portion are connected with an interspace therebetween. At the Af temperature the stent is reoriented, and at and above the Af temperature the proximal portion flares into a funnel conical shape expanding in maximum diameter and decreasing in diameter toward the distal portion. The distal cylindrical portion also expands in diameter, and the two portions directly connect with each other without the interspace.

Abstract: An improved, reusable lancet device, to be utilized with a disposable lancet, the device having an elongate triangular housing and a triangular cap segment to be matingly fitted with one another, the housing and cap segment being adapted to contain an elongate needle holding member slidably disposed within a channel of the housing, the needle holder member having a distal segment, a central segment, and a proximal segment, the proximal segment being adapted to hold the disposable lancet such that a point thereof is positioned in a ready to use position extending away from the housing.