Abstract: This invention discloses such a convenient navigation system and navigatable capsules which are useful for remote-controlled imaging, biopsy and programmable drug release within the body of an animal. The components of the system comprise a capsule dimensioned and shaped to move within the body. An anisotropic magnetic component is mechanically coupled to the capsule to move or orient the body in relation to an applied magnetic field, and a magnetic field generating system external of the body generates a three dimensionally oriented magnetic field within the body to move or orient capsule.

Abstract: A radioactive source ribbon assembly may be reusably utilized in conjunction with a delivery sheath or catheter for delivering therapeutic dosages of ionizing radiation to various anatomical regions. The radioactive source ribbon assembly comprises an outer jacket formed from or coated with a lubricious coating for insertion into the delivery sheath or catheter. The assembly also comprises a radiation resistant sleeve formed from a braided structure which encapsulates a radioactive source and core. The braided structure is the primary axial load bearing member of the assembly and functions as such without sacrificing assembly flexibility.

Abstract: Method and device for biostimulating living organisms and/or for neutralizing harmful effects of appliances that use electric power. The device includes a flat small plate that has at least two metallic components. One of the at least two metallic components includes a peripheral portion. Another of the at least two metallic components includes a central portion that is nested in the peripheral portion. Each of the central and peripheral portions include a metal or metal alloy. The device is adapted to at least one of treat various parts of a living organism and neutralizing the harmful effects of appliances that operate with electric power.

Abstract: A percutaneous or transcutaneous connecting device, featuring at least one passage or a passage-free connection through the outer surface and in particular the skin of a living being, incorporates a permanent magnet (7) which is positioned in the area of the outer surface such as the skin (1, 3) with its poles essentially extending parallel thereto. In the case of a percutaneous connecting device, physical passages (9) are provided which extend through the outer surface of the living being, whereas in the case of a transcutaneous connecting device the transfer of electrical or electromagnetic signals and/or electrical energy takes place without physical passages, instead employing for instance coils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for loading radioactive brachytherapy seeds into a seed cartridge for use with an applicator. Embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention may include a number of contact points of a size and shape designed to conform to the main body of a brachytherapy seed. The apparatus may hold the seeds until the seeds are placed within a channel of the seed cartridge, at which point the seeds may be released from the contact sites by the application of a force to the seeds or by some other mechanism. The apparatus may be made from a flexible material so that the seeds may be released by the application of a tension force. According to embodiments of the method of loading the seed cartridge, seeds in the loader may be positioned in relation to the body of the loading apparatus and the ends of the seeds may be aligned with the channel of the seed cartridge.

Abstract: An implantable device for selectively controlling defecation has an outer body defining on one end a flange that is surgically attachable to the patient's anus and/or tissue adjacent to the anus. A connector is mounted on the other end of the outer body and is secured to the distal end of the patient's large intestine for connecting the large intestine in fluid communication with the artificial rectum. An inner body is slidably received within the outer body. A macerator-type pump is mounted within the inner body and an inlet valve is mounted between the pump and the connector. An actuator in the form of an RF receiver is electrically coupled to the inlet valve and the pump and a remote transmitter is operatively coupled to the receiver. The receiver is responsive to control signals received from the transmitter to open the inlet valve and operate the pump in order to move fecal matter through the artificial rectum.

Abstract: Radiation delivery devices useful in brachytherapy which employ radioactive palladium-103 as the radiation source material are disclosed. Certain embodiments of the disclosed radiation delivery devices have the advantages that they can be fabricated with the desired specific activity, that the self-shielding effects of the devices are minimized, that the radioactive source material is bonded to a substrate in a manner which substantially prevents it from becoming detached, and that a variety of customizable radiation delivery devices can be made using the concepts of the invention. Also disclosed are processes for bonding radiation source material to various substrates using electroless plating, chemical vapor deposition and polymer matrices.

Abstract: A brachytherapy system for treating metastases on and around a patient's spinous process is provided. The device generally includes a catheter member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The distal portion of the catheter member includes first and second branch members that are adapted to be positioned on opposed sides of a patient's spinous process. The device further includes first and second elongate anchoring elements disposed on the first and second branch members, and optionally can include at least one centering mechanism disposed within each of the first and second anchoring elements.

Abstract: A patient's upper airway condition such as snoring and sleep apnea is treated by selecting a particulate material selected for limited migration within tissue and for encouraging a fibrotic response of tissue to the material. A bolus of the particulate material is injected into the tissue area to structurally stiffen the tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for isolating a cardiac surgical site. The device comprises a first finger having a clinging accessory for attaching the first finger to a heart, a second finger having a clinging accessory for attaching the second finger to the heart, a first joint disposed on the first finger so that the first finger may rotate on a surface of the heart such that said rotation stretches a surgical site, a first stopper disposed on the first finger for preventing undesired rotation of the first finger to isolate the surgical site, and a link for coupling the first finger to the second finger. Several embodiments of the fingers and clinging accessories are disclosed. A guard is provided to protect sutures from the clinging accessory. The guard is equipped with a sprayer to wash the surgical site. Also disclosed is a method of isolating a cardiac surgical site.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bone marrow biopsy device 10 that includes a handle, an outer cannula, a stylet, and an inner member. The outer cannula is secured in the handle. The outer cannula defines a distal tip that is tapered to provide a distal cutting edge. The stylet is designed to be inserted in the outer cannula. The stylet defines a sharp distal tip. The inner member is designed to be inserted in the outer cannula. The inner member defines a cutting finger.

Abstract: The device is equipped with the classical catheter (1) finishing in its front end in a tip (2) for attachment to the neck of the uterus, which is prolonged by a cannula (3) of smaller diameter. The device has said cannula (3) closed by means of an elongated lid (4′), with a rounded face, with a perimeter depression and concave curve (8) at the middle level, where orifices are established (5′) as an outlet for the semen, specifically two orifices in diametric opposition, whose positioning is such that they are level with the uterine horns of the pig to be inseminated, by the introduction of the catheter (1), which is defined by a mark (11) in the cannula (3) or in a connector (12), which optimises the conditions of insemination allowing a lower semen consumption. In addition, the rear end of the lid (4′) has a diameter after the cannula (3), to protect the edge of the free end from the latter, avoiding damage to the mucus of the female to be inseminated.

Abstract: An applicator for delivering radioactive seeds to a prostate gland or other internal organ includes a disposable inner part formed by two mating parts that collectively define a longitudinally-extending throughbore when joined together. The disposable inner part is sandwiched between two applicator half shells secured to one another by a slide member. The throughbore is discontinuous at a cartridge-receiving chamber that accommodates a multiple seed-containing cartridge, completely shielded with a sliding inspection window. The trailing end of a transition tube is held within the throughbore on a leading side of the discontinuous throughbore and the leading end of the transition tube extends into the lumen of an elongate needle. Seeds are expelled by a push rod that extends sequentially through a seed discharge chamber in the cartridge, the transition tube, and the needle. In a first alternative embodiment the disposable inner part is one piece and in a second it is formed integrally with the half shells.

Abstract: A protective tool for a therapeutic material delivery device prevents wrong sticking of the outer needle of the device after use and prevents dissipation of blood adhering to the outer needle and comprises a cover (8′A) and a cap (61) or stopper (65) attached to a forward end of said cover for protecting the forward end of the outer tubular needle (2A), wherein said cover (8′A) is formed of a plurality of tubes (8′A1, 8′A2, 8′A3, . . .

Abstract: A bowel control probe and method of detecting and preventing bowel incontinence. The probe has a body with a distal end which is permeable to gas. Conductivity sensors on the probe will establish an electrical circuit in the presence of fecal matter to send an alert signal to a control unit. The sensors may be partially shielded by a removable sleeve to reduce false alarms resulting from moisture. The control unit may issue an audible or visual alarm and may transmit a signal to a remote nursing station. An air cuff about the probe body is cyclically inflated and deflated to block passage of fecal matter and to protect tissue and capillaries in the rectal area.

Abstract: A vascular-endothelial-cell-function evaluating apparatus including a pressing device including a cuff that is adapted to be worn on a first portion of a living subject, and a cuff-pressure changing device that changes a pressure in the cuff so as to press the first portion of the subject in a pressing period, a pulse-wave detecting device that detects a pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses, from the first portion of the subject, or a second portion of the subject located on a distal side of the first portion, and a pulse-wave-second-half-information obtaining device that obtains a plurality of sets of pulse-wave-second-half information that represent respective characteristics of respective second-half portions of respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the pulse wave that are detected by the pulse-wave detecting device at respective different times, the respective second-half portions of the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses being respective portions of the respective pu

Abstract: A radioactive or activatable seed for use in brachytherapy, and a method for producing the seed, the seed comprising a closed and self-supported casing consisting of (a) a radioactive or activatable metallic material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy and a metal composite or mixtures thereof, optionally in combination with (b) a non-radioactive, non-activatable metallic material; wherein (a) comprises a radioactive nuclide selected from the group consisting of Pd-103, Tm-170, Sr-90, Y-90, Yb-169, P-32, Ge-71, Se-75, Cl-36, Ta-182, Tl-204, Re-188, W-188, Ce-144, Pr-144, Sn-123, Ru-106, Rh-106 and mixtures thereof, and/or an activatable precursor nuclide thereof selected from the group consisting of Pd-102, Rh-103, Tm-169, Y-89, Yb-168, P-31, Ge-70, Se-74, Cl-35, Ta-181, Tl-203, W-186, Sn-122 and mixtures thereof, excluding metallic Pd with natural abundance of Pd-102.

Abstract: Sensory stimulation and sensory anesthesia are induced by means of a device which creates a time varying magnetic field which, in turn, creates an electric field in a direction parallel to the nerve and at the nerve so as to cause either depolarization leading to an action potential and subsequent sensory stimulation or hyperpolarization and subsequent blockade of nerve impulses which causes sensory anesthesia.

Abstract: A system for brachytherapy is provided. The system includes an implantation device having a tubular member, a radioactive source within the member, and a socket at opposing ends of the tubular member. A plurality of implantation devices may be joined into an assembly by use of a spacer positioned within the sockets of adjoining devices. The device may be deployed at an implantation site by use of a delivery mechanism, such as needle. The presence of the tubular members and spacers minimizes movement of the radioactive source subsequent to deployment, so as not to alter dose distribution for subsequent irradiation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a fixation apparatus and method for interfacing an implantable hearing aid actuator with the ossicular chain of a patient. The fixation apparatus may include one or more surface discontinuities to enhance tissue fixation and thereby yield enhanced mechanical coupling and vibratory response. Surface discontinuities may be in the form of surface pores, surface asperities and complex surface shapes such as grooves, slots, lips or openings formed in the fixation apparatus. The fixation apparatus may also and/or alternatively include a portion or component that is deflectable or that comprises a conditioned shape memory material that is activatable at bodily temperatures to yield a degree of lateral loading when the fixation apparatus is positioned within an opening defined within a bone of the ossicular chain of a patient, thereby yielding enhanced mechanical coupling.