Abstract: A catheter system and method are provided which change the temperature of a fluid, such as blood, by heat transfer. Selective cooling or heating of an organ may be performed by changing the temperature of the blood feeding the organ. The catheter system includes an inlet lumen and an outlet lumen structured and arranged to carry a working fluid having a temperature different from the adjacent blood. The outlet lumen is configured to induce turbulence in the adjacent fluid passing adjacent the outlet lumen.

Abstract: A device for the in vitro development of an embryo in a fluid. A method for the in vitro development of an embryo in a fluid is also provided.

Abstract: An improved radio-frequency catheter system for ablating biological tissues of a body vessel in a patient including a catheter, a deployable antenna guide disposed at the distal portion of the catheter and a radio-frequency (“RF”) antenna mounted on the antenna guide. The RF antenna includes a axial passageway to accommodate the antenna guide, and is adapted to receive and transmit RF energy for tissue ablation. Upon deployment, the antenna guide acquires a loop configuration which establishes line contact with the body vessel conformable to its internal contour to prescribe the precise and affixed tissue ablation pathway despite body vessel movements. The RF antenna is carried by the antenna guide to be deployed along the established tissue ablation pathway. Alignment of the loop with the desired tissue ablation pathway is facilitated with the use of radio-opaque markers and intracardiac electrodes mounted along the antenna guide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the blood vessel, heat may be transferred to or from blood flowing within the vessel and the patient's body temperature may thereby be increased or decreased as desired. The invention will find use in treating undesirable conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia, or for inducing a condition of artificial hypothermia when desired.

Abstract: Large tissue regions are treated using pairs of electrode arrays. The electrode arrays may be concave and disposed in tissue so that their concave portions are opposed to each other. Axial conductors may be provided extending from the arrays and toward each other in order to increase the heating of tissues lying along the axis between the deployed electrode arrays. By properly spacing the electrode arrays apart and selecting the diameters of the arrays, desired volumes of tissue may be treated, typically with a bipolar, radiofrequency current.

Abstract: A device for providing thermal therapy to the perineal and rectal areas of a patient is provided. The device can be used alone or in conjunction with an absorbent pad. The device is particularly useful for alleviating post-partum swelling and pain. Different embodiments of the device can be used to provide either hot or cold therapy to a patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relaxing a person in a stressful environment, such as a health care, business, hospitality or educational setting, provides a person with a choice of selecting for viewing one or more high resolution spatially open, serene natural landscape scenes to which the person is believed to have an innate positive (biophilic) affinity, upon a fabric frame display member mounted upon a flexible wall partition, such as a hospital curtain, a ceiling, a stand or other display member. In one embodiment, the spatially open, serene natural landscape scene is a savanna-type landscape or a like scene to which humans are believed to have a biophilic affinity. The biophilic landscape picture is printed preferably on a flexible fabric by a high resolution sublimation printing process, wherein an image is first scanned into a computer and then transformed by state-of-the-art technology to the fabric herein. The image may also be printed directly on all or a portion of a curtain itself.

Abstract: A collapsible ultrasonic reflector incorporates a gas-filled reflector balloon, a liquid-filled structural balloon an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the structural balloon. Acoustic energy emitted by the transducer is reflected by a highly reflective interface between the balloons. In a cardiac ablation procedure, the ultrasonic energy is focused into an annular focal region to ablate cardiac tissue extending in an annular path along the wall. Devices for stabilizing the balloon structure and for facilitating collapse and withdrawal of the balloon structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system is provided for delivering a medical treatment to a treatment site in a vessel or other conduit in a mammalian body, including an afterloader including a housing, a drive member, and a conduit having a first end operatively associated with an output portion of the drive member, and a connector disposed at a second end, the connector defining a first mating surface, an elongated transport tube having a proximal end defining a second mating surface, the first and second mating surfaces being complementarily configured and dimensioned such that a continuous passageway is formed between the conduit and the elongated transport tube, and a locking member positionable within a channel formed adjacent either the first or second mating surfaces and being configured and dimensioned such that upon insertion of the locking member in the channel the first and second mating surfaces are securely mated.

Abstract: A surgical biopsy apparatus for cutting tissue comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis, first and second members movable from a retracted position to an extended position with respect to the housing, a third member slidably positioned and extendable with respect to the first member, a fourth member slidably positioned and extendable with respect to the second member, and an electrocautery cutting wire slidable with respect to the third and fourth members to surround a region of tissue positioned between the third and fourth members to cut the tissue.

Abstract: An electrode catheter is provided having a predetermined flexibility throughout the entire length or at least at the contact portion, such as the electrode region, to allow for the molding of the contact portion such that it conforms to the shape of the heart at a preselected desired target area, such as the isthmus between the inlet of inferior vena cava and posterior tricuspid annulus. The catheter also includes a guiding sheath that is preferably semirigid and may be pre-shaped with at least one bend or angulation to assist in molding to ensure that the electrode region overlies the desired target treatment area. A remotely controlled anchoring device is provided at the distal end of the catheter for anchoring it in position to facilitate the molding operation and placement over the target treatment area. A method of cardiac ablation using the catheter of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cryosurgical instrument including a long, resiliently flexible cable terminating at a freezing unit with a selectively operable thermoelectric cooling device for normally freezing a leading contact tip.

Abstract: A surgical instrument useful in harvesting blood vessels such as veins and arteries. The instrument has a pair of jaws and a central cutting element displaceable distally and proximally to dissect tissue contained between the jaws. A sequencing element prevents the cutting element from being engaged when the jaws are in the open configuration.

Abstract: A high frequency electrosurgical power generator configured to produce electrical power at a frequency of about 1 to about 14 MHz and preferably having an essentially sinusoidal waveform with a voltage level up to 1,000 Vrms, and a current level up to 5 Amps. The output of the high frequency electrosurgical power generator is connected to an electrosurgical tool configured to receive the voltage and current produced by the electrosurgical power generator and deliver the voltage and current to an electrosurgical site. The output of the electrosurgical generator preferably is an essentially sinusoid waveform with a frequency between about 3 MHz and about 8 MHz, up to about 700 volts rms, up to about 2 amps, with a total power of up to 1,000 watts.

Abstract: Described is a catheter system for implanting embryos into a woman's uterus. The catheter system utilizes a protective catheter sleeve for introducing a catheter into the uterus without mucus contamination of an inner catheter. Once the sleeve containing the inner catheter is introduced into the uterus, the protected inner catheter, carrying the embryos, is pushed through a swivelable distal end cap on the sleeve to a desired implanting location. The distal end of the inner catheter has a protective cap and a side opening for embryo release. Also, stiffness and indicia features of the outer sleeve and inner catheter assist in the physician's handling of the catheter system and in ensuring a desired uterus location for implanting.

Abstract: Vascular blemishes are reduced by directing pulsed laser radiation to converge toward the blemishes in a plurality of directions, each beam of radiation being derived from a primary radiation source or from a separate radiation source, thereby to cause selective thermolysis of blood vessels in the blemishes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced method and device to inhibit or reduce the rate of restenosis following angioplasty or stent placement. The invention involves placing a balloon tipped catheter in the area treated or opened through balloon angioplasty immediately following angioplasty. The balloon, which can have a dual balloon structure, may be delivered through a guiding catheter and over a guidewire already in place from a balloon angioplasty. A fluid such as a perfluorocarbon may be flowed into the balloon to freeze the tissue adjacent the balloon, this cooling being associated with reduction of restenosis. The catheter may also be used to reduce atrial fibrillation by inserting and inflating the balloon such that an exterior surface of the balloon is in contact with at least a partial circumference of the portion of the pulmonary vein adjacent the left atrium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical device to cold treat desired regions. An injection tube with an open distal end is disposed inside of a catheter tube, defining a return lumen therein. A supply of cryogenic fluid, regulated by a controller mechanism coupled to the device, flows through the injection tube and into the distal tip portion of the catheter tube, whereupon the fluid is returned from the catheter through the return lumen. The expansion and evaporation of cryogenic fluid inside the device serves to cool the surrounding areas external to and proximate the distal end of the device. An additional restriction tube is provided in the length of the catheter tube to regulate the pressure of the flow of cryogen therethrough so as to create higher operating pressures in the distal end of the device and thereby enhance the cooling power and temperature stability of the device at a lower range of fluid flow rates without reaching the triple point of the cryogenic fluid.

Abstract: System for withdrawing body fluid from a body part in particular the finger pad, comprising a compression unit that is deformed when the body part is pressed against it and increases the internal pressure in a region of the body part, and a withdrawal device. Deformation of the compression unit partially converts the primary pressing movement into a secondary movement which leads to an increase in the internal pressure in a region of the body part. The invention also comprises a system for stimulating the outflow of body fluid using a deformable compression unit.

Abstract: The cryosurgical system comprises a Joule-Thomson cryoprobe including a Joule-Thomson nozzle and a cryoprobe outlet. The Joule-Thomson nozzle is in fluid communication with the cryoprobe outlet. A high pressure gas supply line is aligned to supply gas to the Joule-Thomson cryoprobe. An operating cut-off valve is operatively connected to the high pressure gas supply line, the valve being operable to supply and cut off high pressure gas to the Joule-Thomson cryoprobe. A vent valve assembly is operatively connected to the high pressure gas supply line, the vent valve assembly being operable to vent gas from the high pressure supply line immediately upon operation of the operating cut-off valve to cut off high pressure gas to the Joule-Thomson cryoprobe. An interlock controls the vent valve assembly, the interlock being operable to open the vent valve assembly immediately upon operation of the cut-off valve to cut off high pressure gas to the Joule-Thomson cryoprobe.