Abstract: An apparatus for sealing approximated edges of tissue with thermal energy includes a clamp having members which grasp and hold tissue. A transmissive material is supported by at least one of the members. The members pivot to pull the tissue edges in tight approximation against the transmissive material to form a seam. Thermal energy is then directed at the tissue through the transmissive material and at the seam with sufficient intensity and duration to heat the tissue to an adhesive proteinaceous substance to seal the seam. The approximated seam is held against the transmissive material with an appropriate pressure to avoid over inverted or over everted tissue approximation.

Abstract: A method and/or an apparatus for the determination of whether a subject has nerve damage (polyneuropathy) and/or the degree of the nerve damage is characterized in that an increase of the skin temperature is provoked at an extremity of the subject, that at the same time perfusion value or a value correlated with this perfusion value is measured at this extremity, and the time from the start of the increase in temperature of the skin up to the start of an increase in perfusion as a result of the elevated skin temperature is evaluated as a measure for the presence and/or the degree of the nerve damage.

Abstract: A method is provided for closing a puncture in a wall of an artery made for the purpose of moving an elongated catheter into the artery in which an exterior guide tube is extended through the adjacent skin area through the body containing the artery, through the puncture in the wall of the artery and into the artery so as to enable the catheter to be guidingly moved through the guide tube and into the artery. The method includes the steps of withdrawing the catheter from the guide tube, extending a plug having a removable guide wire extending longitudinally therethrough into the guide tube so that the guide wire extends from the plug through the puncture, moving the guide tube outwardly so that it no longer extends within the puncture and leaves the guide wire extending through the puncture, moving the plug inwardly along the guide wire into blocking relation with the puncture, and withdrawing the guide wire from the plug so as to leave the plug sealed in blocking relation with the puncture.

Abstract: A method is provided for remodeling a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, having a stenosis using a thermoplastic stent including the steps of increasing the temperature of the thermoplastic stent, body lumen and stenosis at the region of the stenosis for a time period and to a temperature level sufficient to cause a change in the stent, stenosis and body lumen region from a relatively solid state into a softer and more moldable state and thereafter expanding the stenosis and the body lumen region while in the softer and more moldable state to thus reduce the tendency to fracture during expansion while enabling the stent to contact an inner surface of a wall of the body lumen, and reducing the temperature of the thermoplastic stent, stenosis and body lumen region while maintaining the expansion for a time period and to a temperature level sufficient to re-establish the relatively solid state thereof so that the thermoplastic tent molds against the surface of the inner surface of the wall of the body lumen

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a medical or dental treatment by: providing radiation at two different wavelengths and at respective power levels such that the radiation at each wavelength is individually capable of cutting a given organic tissue; simultaneously applying the laser radiation at the two different wavelengths to a single body region which is composed of the given tissue; and directing a cooling fluid at the single body fluid region simultaneously with the step of applying radiation.

Abstract: A surgical system including: (1) a thermoplastic, body absorbable, bodily tissue fixation plate having a plurality of formations and a plurality of through-bores arranged in alternating relation along with plate; (2) body absorbable fasteners adapted for insertion into the through-bores to secure the plate to underlying bodily tissue; and (3) heating apparatus including a wand having a heating tip of a configuration adapted to substantially matingly cooperate with the formations to facilitate heating and bending of the plate into conformance with the underlying bodily tissue.

Abstract: An instrument for use in human cataract or glaucoma eye surgery which is inserted into the inferior cul-de-sac of the eye in order to rotate the eyeball downward for exposure of the upper eyeball sclera for surgery. The present instrument avoids the need for sutures or stitches to rotate the eyeball down, thereby avoiding the possibility of ptosis, and unnecessary wounds and their associated possibilities of hemorrhage, discomfort, slow healing and infection. The instrument includes a pair of arms with intermediate curls and a terminating crossbar.

Abstract: A multi-fiber linear array laser catheter for use in irradiation of biological tissue where a circular laser beam is optically transformed to coincide with the cross-section of a linear array of optical fibers. The transformed laser beams are focused onto a linear connector and transmitted through a plurality of parallel optical fibers. Heat is extracted and drawn from the vicinity of the parallel optic fibers by metallic plates acting as heat sinks on opposing sides of the parallel optic fibers.

Abstract: A laser treatment method is provided which removes pigment containing lesions, both normal and abnormal medically, from the skin of a living human. The methodology comprises a carefully controlled irradiation of the chosen treatment site on the skin of a living human; avoids the creation of cosmetically disfiguring scars; and eliminates the typical hypopigmentation as well as the pitting and other changes in skin texture normally accompanying conventionally known laser treatment techniques.

Abstract: A multi-function arthroscope has a laser channel, an irrigation tube, a suction tube, a rod lens, and optical fibers housed within a tubular casing. The operation site is illuminated by the optical fibers, and the physician views the illuminated site through the rod lens, performs laser surgery with laser radiation propagated by the laser channel, irrigates the site and cleans the rod lens with saline solution through the irrigation tube, and vacuums the debris with the suction tube, all in a single insertion of the arthroscope through a dilator tube. The respective distal ends of the optical fibers, rod lens, laser channel, irrigation tube, and the suction tube are positioned in different planes so that the suction tube extends in a distal direction further than the laser channel, the laser channel extends further than the irrigation tube, and the irrigation tube extends further than the rod lens.

Abstract: A reclining chair including a seat, a back and a base. The forward portion of the seat is pivotally coupled to the base such that the seat pivotally moves substantially about a knee of a person seated in the reclining chair. Also, the seat and back are coupled together such that the back portion pivotally moves substantially about a hip of the person seated in the reclining chair as the chair is reclined.

Abstract: A compression forceps with four bar linkage is formed of a stationary handle and jaw connected by a shank area; a moveable jaw; a moveable handle having the approximate shape of a bell crank with major and minor arms; and a connecting link member having first and second opposite ends. The four links are joined at pivots, with a first pivot connecting the major and minor arms of the moveable handle to the rear end of the shank area of the stationary handle and jaw. A second pivot connects the free end of the minor arm to a rear end of the moveable jaw. A third pivot connects a first end of the link to the front end of the shank area of the stationary handle and jaw. A fourth pivot connects the second end of the link to a middle area of the moveable jaw. The compound linkage thus formed operates the jaws with an increase of the relative inside angle between the jaws as the jaws close.

Abstract: A scopic probe adapted to dissect various tissue includes a shaft and a wire tip. The wire tip includes an arcuate portion that is at a 90.degree. angle relative to the shaft. The arcuate or loop portion then extends to a linear tip that is parallel to the shaft. The tip is used to separate tissue which in turn is hooked by the loop allowing the surgeon to visualize depth and divide the hooked tissue. This permits a surgeon to perform tasks generally requiring several instruments with only one instrument.

Abstract: A spinal fixation system is provided for engagement to the spine of a patient between several vertebral levels, which includes an elongated spinal rod configured for placement adjacent the spine. The system includes a number of vertebral fixation elements, each including a vertebra engaging portion and a rod engaging portion formed by a pair of posts extending from the vertebra engaging portion. The vertebral fixation elements are engaged to the spinal rod each by way of a top-loading clamp that permits access directly from the top of the instrumentation site for tightening the system. In particular, the clamp includes a body defining an elongated bore configured to receive the spinal rod therethrough so that the rod can at least initially slide along the length of the bore. A pair of threaded bores extend from opposite top and bottom surfaces of the body, each intersecting the elongated rod bore.

Abstract: A suture fastening device which includes a first member having a base and two resilient elongated legs extending from the base. The legs are provided with barbs for snap fit engagement with an aperture in a second member, i.e., a retainer. The suture is held in serpentine fashion by positioning the suture transversely across both the legs and then locking the first member and the retainer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fracturing hard deposits such as urinary and biliary stones and atherosclerotic plaque in the human body. A flexible guide having a hard mass capping an end is adapted for insertion through a fluid passage in a living body. An energy source creates a rapid vapor expansion adjacent to the cap causing it to undergo a pulse like movement, imparting a high-velocity impulse to an adjacent deposit, thereby fracturing it. The energy source may be a laser with a fiber optic delivery system in the guide terminating adjacent to the cap to cause vaporization of the mass cap to create the vapor expansion. The energy source may be a spark generator with a conductor associated with the guide to deliver a fluid vaporizing spark adjacent to the mass cap. Other forms of rapid energy delivery such as chemical detonations or ballistic impact may also be applicable.

Abstract: A catheter for use in radiofrequency ablation of the myocardium of the heart of a patient having a flexible elongate member with at least one lumen extending therethrough and having proximal and distal extremities. A needle-like electrode formed of a conducting material is mounted on the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member. A conductor extends through the lumen and is connected to the electrode. Radiofrequency energy is supplied to to said conductor and to the electrode to cause ablation of the myocardium.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a vacuum extractor for use in childbirth and comprising a bell shaped cup having a relatively thin outer flared edge, a hollow stem extending from the cup, and the stem including a handle. A vacuum source can be connected to the stem to draw a vacuum within the cup. A liner is hooked over the flared edge of the cup and provides a relatively large soft and resilient bead for the outer edge of the vacuum extractor which contacts maternal and fetal tissue. The liner is stretched into and secured within the cup and includes an aperture for allowing a vacuum to be drawn within the cup.

Abstract: The invention provides a catheter for ice mapping and ablation and a method of ablation using the catheter. The catheter includes at least two lumens for circulating a refrigerating fluid adjacent an ablation device located at the end of a catheter. The refrigerated ablation device is used to chill a localized region of myocardial tissue, thereby permitting the resulting change in electrical activity to be determined. In response to the test results, the ablation device may be used to make a lesion in the myocardial tissue to correct a cardiac arrhythmia. In one embodiment, the ablation device is an electrode which uses radio frequency energy to ablate the myocardial tissue. Alternatively, the ablation device is an electrode adapted for direct current ablation. In another embodiment, the electrode is replaced with an optical fiber in communication with a laser which uses the laser's light energy to ablate tissue.

Abstract: A device for use during endoscopic surgery for temporarily maintaining an open passageway through a body wall into a body cavity having a main hollow tube, a pair of extendable flukes pivotably mounted on the tube, a second hollow tube for camming the flukes open and clamping means for engagement with the skin of a patient and a third hollow tube for compressing the flukes in order that the device may be inserted into and removed from the incision.