Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the teeth for looseness in a form of physical quantity of elasticity, viscosity and mass elements. The apparatus including a signal generator producing analog signals that have a desired frequency and waveform, a vibration driver for converting electrical signals supplied from the digital type oscillating signal generator into a mechanical vibration, an impedance head for detecting force and acceleration required to cause the teeth to oscillate, and an analysis device which takes in the data on the force and acceleration detected by the impedance head so as to obtain a physical quantity of the measured tooth.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent for implanting in a body lumen in which a plurality of connecting members are deformed radially outwardly to form projecting barbs for attaching the stent to a body lumen. The stent has a first, unexpanded low profile diameter for intraluminal delivery, and a second, larger expanded diameter for implanting in a body lumen in which projecting barbs are formed and which penetrate the body lumen to assist in attaching the stent to the walls of the body lumen.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall. The apparatus provides a broad lifting surface that is capable of applying a lifting force of at least 40 pounds (180 Newtons) to an area of a body wall sufficiently extensive to reduce the lifting pressure exerted on the body wall to well below that which could cause pressure trauma to the body wall, yet delivers this broad lifting surface through the body wall via an incision about 14 mm long. The apparatus comprises a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state. In the inflated state, the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole. The body wall engaging element includes an equatorial portion facing into the central hole.

Abstract: A bone shaver comprises a top plate with a fixed handle fixedly attached to the top plate and a bottom plate slidably attached to the top plate. The top plate further comprises an anvil at its end. The bottom plate comprises a foot plate and a cutting edge on the foot plate. A movable handle is attached to the bottom plate. Movement of the movable handle towards the fixed handle results in movement of the bottom plate towards the top plate. A cutting edge is provided on the foot plate to thereby cut tissue when the handles are squeezed together.

Abstract: A sleeve carrying stent for implantation within a body lumen comprising a radially expandable cylindrical stent component having an inner wall and an outer wall, a plurality of elongated support struts, and a sleeve secured to the ends of the struts, wherein the struts are preferably parallel and may be loosely interlocked with the stent component, and wherein the stent component is able to move longitudinally independent of the struts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use as a wenchless and adapterless collet system for attaching an elongated surgical cutting blade to an oscillating surgical saw. The system comprises a collet adapted to mate with a particularly shaped blade hub. The collet has a transverse clamping head attached to a longitudinally slidable, axially aligned shaft which is adapted to slide axially along the axis of the handpiece. The handpiece has an annular anchor sleeve having an annular groove proximally adjacent to the collet clamping head. The hub at the proximal end of the blade is provided with a radially inwardly extending locking flange adapted to engage the clamping head and a radially inwardly extending anchor flange adapted to engage the annular groove in the anchor sleeve. The longitudinal spacing between the hub flanges enables the hub to be received adjacent the anchor groove in an interdigitating mating of complementarily shaped surfaces.

Abstract: This invention concerns an improved removable stent for temporary placement within a body. A stent according to the present invention utilizes a removable coil or the like of reinforcing filament such as metal or plastic wire enclosed at least partially within a shell or within a covering of biodegradable/bioabsorbable material which is allowed to remain within the body after removal of the reinforcing filament.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acupuncture-tapping procedures on a human body. The apparatus includes an acupuncture-tapping plate which has attached needles. A buffer connector is attached to the acupuncture-tapping plate solely by resilient member. A driving member is attached to the buffer connector by resilient member so that the buffer connector is operated to drive the acupuncture-tapping plate by utilizing the buffer connector. In this way, an acupuncture-tapping technique is provided which has beneficial effects on the damaged skin of the human body.

Abstract: A ligating clip having surfaces with slanted ramp members for clamping a tubular vessel. The ligating clip includes a pair of legs, each of which has a proximal end, a distal end and an inner surface. The proximal ends of the legs are joined to define a hinge. The legs may be forced together onto a tubular vessel such that the inner surfaces of the legs are face-to-face in a closed position. A lock tab protrudes inward from the inner surface near the distal end of one of the legs. A lock slot is provided in the inner surface near the distal end of the other leg. The lock slot receives the lock tab to secure the ligating clip in the closed position. A number of ramp members extend angularly inward from the inner surface of each leg in order to keep the tubular vessel from slipping in the distal direction as the ligating clip is closed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices that can be used for repairing cracks that form in the hoof of an animal. Methods for using these devices in repairing cracks are also claimed.

Abstract: A flexible surgical razor for removing organic tissue, such as lesions, moles, corns and the like, at or below the skin's surface. The surgical razor utilizes a flexible blade with a well-honed front edge and left and right gripping extensions formed attached to the left and right side edges of the blade, respectively. Each gripping extension includes an inner segment extending in the same plane as the blade, a middle segment extending at an upward angle away from the plane of the blade, and an exterior segment, with exterior gripping edges, extending at an intersecting angle with the middle segment. The gripping edges include a plurality of teeth in rows asymmetrically angled to the plane of the flexible blade for full and complete control of blade flexing. A flexible sheath is added to regulate the shape and extent of the blade's curvature. The user applies inward finger pressure to both gripping extensions simultaneously which bends the flexible blade in a curved fashion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument includes a handpiece containing an ultrasonic generator. A hollow cutting probe is connected to the handpiece and is longitudinally moved at ultrasonic frequency when the generator is energized. The hollow probe has a cutting edge or edges formed thereon. One embodiment has a side cutting edge for side cutting action of skin, tissue, or bone. Other embodiments have a cutting edge formed on the tip of the probe. The hollow probe allows cut tissue or bone to be removed from the operative site by a vacuum applied thereto. The hollow probe also allows an irrigating fluid to be introduced to the operative site.

Abstract: An occlusive implant includes an elongated member having an end, a portion proximal to that end, and a portion distal to that end. The proximal portion is sufficiently flexible so that it can be folded upon itself and maintain that configuration without further restraint. At least a portion of the distal portion is preformed to have a first configuration when in a first state and a second configuration when in a second state. The distal portion second configuration has a flow resistance substantially greater than that of the proximal portion. When discharged in the region to be occluded, the proximal portion is forced into a mass around at least a portion of the distal portion secondary structure. As the mass builds in size, it is believed to frictionally engage the surrounding vasculature wall and anchor the implant thereto. The occlusive implant preferably is provided in an introducer cartridge for delivery in vivo.

Abstract: A dual supported intraluminal graft comprising a biocompatible flexible layer sandwiched between two structural support layers. The preferred embodiment comprises a first structural support, such as a stent, which is concentrically retained within a tubular shaped PTFE graft which is concentrically retained within a second structural support, such as a stent. The ends of the PTFE graft may be folded back onto the outer surface of the second structural support thereby forming flaps. Upon radial expansion of the preferred embodiment, the stent/graft/stent assembly forms inseparable layers.

Abstract: A surgical scalpel includes a blade carried by a blade support, which is slidable within an outer sheath. The blade support is movable from a first position in which the blade is within the sheath to a second position in which the blade is exposed. One end of the blade support has a hollow cylinder, in which a stationary piston is disposed. Movement of the blade support from the first position to the second position creates a vacuum within the hollow cylinder, so that when the surgeon releases his or her grip on the scalpel, the blade support is quickly and automatically retracted to the first position.

Abstract: A cupping instrument comprises a vacuum cup integrally comprising an outlet hole at one end thereof, an annular socket concentrically surrounding the outlet hole, and a cylindrical tubular extension extending from the one end and surrounding the outlet hole and the annular socket. A suction valve for opening and closing the outlet hole is disposed in the annular socket and comprises a sealing disk, a centrally disposed die-cut valve disk, an annular outer portion surrounding the valve disk, and at least one bridge integrally connecting the annular outer portion to the valve disk. An aspirator is connected to the vacuum cup, the aspirator comprising an aspirator cylinder detachably mounted in the cylindrical tubular extension and having a forward end wall facing the outlet hole and defining an aspirating opening concentrically surrounding the outlet hole.

Abstract: A safety incising instrument for helically incising a pathway through a body wall at a controlled rate without exerting longitudinal forces on the instrument. The instrument incorporates a helix assembly with a helically-protruding edge made of two cooperating elements: a tapered blade element with a sharp helical blade edge and a resilient shield element with a dull helical edge. The blade and shield elements mate along helical interfaces and jointly define the helically-protruding edge. A periphery of the helix is transformable between an incising position in which the sharp blade edge is exposed and a non-incising position in which the sharp blade edge is not exposed. The shield element is made of resilient material and tissue counterforce or drag on the shield causes the helix to transform to the incising position to incise a pathway in the body wall.

Abstract: Various mechanisms, and a method of operating them, are provided for use in a surgical instrument. A shaft and an engaged lost motion operating knob are provided for rotation relative to a handle portion. A latch system prevents rotation of the shaft unless the shaft is rotated by means of the knob. A cartridge is provided for rotation at the distal end of the shaft. Engaging structures are provided for preventing rotation of the cartridge relative to the shaft when axial forces are applied to the cartridge. A loading tool is provided for engaging the cartridge to install the cartridge on the instrument. The cartridge includes a washer for engaging a carrier on which the cartridge is mounted so as to prevent rotation of the washer. The washer is adapted to engage a fastener advancing member in a first angular orientation and is disengaged when the cartridge is rotated to establish a second relative angular orientation.

Abstract: Self-centering valvulotome (V) having a flexible cable (1) partly and slidably disposed within a protective sheath (2), a cutting unit (4), having at least three radially mounted, retractable cutting blades, attached to the cable at its distal end, and a dual-purpose control mechanism attached to the cable at its proximal end. Each retractable cutting blade comprises a free-floating cutting head and a flat spring section, which biases the cutting head against the venous wall. The control mechanism comprises a T-valve segment disposed partly within the proximal end of the protective sheath. A pull handle affixed to the proximal end of the cable can engage the T-valve such that a fluid-tight seal is created, thereby allowing the introduction of a diagnostic or therapeutic fluid to the protective sheath via an access port in the valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use as a wrenchless and adapterless collet system for attaching an elongated surgical cutting blade to an oscillating surgical saw. The system comprises a collet adapted to mate with a particularly shaped blade hub. The collet has a transverse clamping head attached to a longitudinally slidable, axially aligned shaft which is adapted to slide axially along the axis of the handpiece. The handpiece has an annular anchor sleeve having an annular groove proximally adjacent to the collet clamping head. The hub at the proximal end of the blade is provided with a radially inwardly extending locking flange adapted to engage the clamping head and a radially inwardly extending anchor flange adapted to engage the annular groove in the anchor sleeve. The longitudinal spacing between the hub flanges enables the hub to be received adjacent the anchor groove in an interdigitating mating of complementarily shaped surfaces.