Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a head disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The head has a cylindrical lateral surface and an end face oriented perpendicularly to the axis. The head has three shaping surfaces at a distal end of the cylindrical surface, each shaping surface extending at an acute angle to the axis. Each of the shaping surfaces intersects or is contiguous with both the cylindrical surface and the end face.

Abstract: A disposable ultrasonic surgical handle connectable to an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic waveguide, a battery, and an ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly, includes a handle body having a power supply portion defining a battery-holding compartment, the battery-holding compartment having at least two battery contacts, a waveguide attachment dock exposed to the environment and shaped to accept the waveguide therein, an ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly dock exposed to the environment and shaped to selectively removably secure the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly to the handle body and electrically couple the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly to the battery contacts, and a transducer attachment dock exposed to the environment and shaped to substantially simultaneously place the ultrasonic transducer in coaxial alignment with the waveguide when the waveguide is disposed within the waveguide attachment dock and electrically couple the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembl

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical assembly includes a reusable cordless ultrasonic transducer and a disposable handle body that defines a battery-holding compartment therewithin, having an ultrasonic surgical waveguide, and operable to removably couple the transducer to the waveguide, the transducer being removably couplable to the handle body.

Abstract: A surgical device mitigates over-puncture with a bias spring that biases a leading, cutting edge in the opposite direction of the anticipated over-puncture. An associated locking mechanism is configured to release the force of the bias spring in a direction counter to the direction of insertion when the tension force of tissue against the cutting edge is released. Thus, when an opening in the tissue forms, the tension is released and the cutting edge can move opposite to the direction of insertion of the surgical device at the same time that an applied force drives the instrument in the direction of insertion. In this manner, the spring and locking mechanism cooperate to move the cutting edge opposite to the direction of insertion as soon as an incision is made.

Abstract: A trocar assembly including a trocar and a trocar sheath and methods for accessing an intracorporeal site, e.g. biopsy or trocar site, using the trocar assembly. The trocar has a tissue penetrating distal tip, an elongated shaft and a proximal handle portion. The distal portion of the trocar sheath forms a releasable connection, such as a friction fit, with the shaft of the trocar and a slit that extends from the distal portion to the proximal end of the trocar sheath. The trocar assembly is advanced through the patient's tissue until the distal end of the trocar sheath is located at the desired site and then the trocar is removed. A treatment device such as a radiation balloon catheter is advanced through the interior of the sheath until the treatment component thereof is at the desired site.

Abstract: A method for assembling an ultrasonic surgical device includes the steps of providing a proximal end of an ultrasonic waveguide at an ultrasonic surgical handle body, removably coupling an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly having a ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit to the ultrasonic surgical handle body, mechanically coupling an ultrasonic transducer rotationally freely and substantially longitudinally fixedly to the ultrasonic surgical handle body to place an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer opposite and adjacent the proximal end of the ultrasonic waveguide, and rotating the waveguide and the ultrasonic transducer with respect to one another to removably fixedly couple the waveguide to the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer and to electrically couple the ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit to the ultrasonic surgical handle body.

Abstract: A method of placing an electrical lead of an implantable cardiac device inside a heart of a patient. The method includes securing a tool to an atrial appendage of the heart to hold onto the atrial appendage, piercing the atrial appendage, and creating an aperture in the atrial appendage while holding the atrial appendage with the tool. The method also includes moving a distal end of the electrical lead into the heart through the aperture in the atrial appendage and into a ventricle of the heart. Furthermore, the method includes coupling the distal end of the electrical lead to cardiac tissue in the ventricle and delivering an electrical signal to the cardiac tissue in the ventricle of the heart to maintain a predetermined heartbeat of the heart.

Abstract: A disposable ultrasonic surgical handle connectable to an ultrasonic waveguide, a battery, and an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly includes a first handle body portion defining therein an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment shaped to receive the battery therein, a second handle body portion connected to the first handle body portion, and an electrical couple. The second handle body portion has a waveguide attachment dock exposed to the environment and an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly dock exposed to the environment and shaped to connect the ultrasonic waveguide in the waveguide attachment dock to the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly through the second handle body portion. The electrical couple is operable to connect a battery within the battery-holding compartment to the ultrasonic-movement-generator-assembly when the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly is docked at the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly dock.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a gastrointestinal tract of a subject, the apparatus including a straightening rod (8), and a flexible tubular anchor (1) having a distal end (2) and an open proximal end (4), and sized to fit in the gastrointestinal tract. The anchor (1) comprises a material that has an elastic memory which biases the anchor (1) towards assuming a pre-selected bent configuration. The anchor (1) is shaped so as to define a central core (7) extending from the open proximal end (4) toward the distal end (2). The anchor (1) is configured to be straightened from the pre-selected bent configuration by insertion of the straightening rod (8) in the central core (7). The apparatus further includes a device (70) coupled to the anchor, selected from the list consisting of: a therapeutic device, and a transmitting device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A disposable ultrasonic surgical handle includes a disposable handle body that has a first handle body portion defining a handgrip and a second handle body portion connected to the first handle body portion, where the second handle body portion has a waveguide attachment dock exposed to the environment and having a first couple operable to connect an ultrasonic waveguide thereto and an aseptically sealable powered-ultrasonic-motion-generator assembly dock shaped to connect the ultrasonic waveguide in the attachment dock to an assembly within the assembly dock through the second handle body portion.

Abstract: A tissue penetrating instrument of the type used in the medical field and which may or may not be embodied in the form of an obturator associated with a trocar assembly, wherein the instrument includes an elongated shaft having a penetrating tip mounted on one end thereof. The penetrating tip includes a base secured to the one end of the shaft and a distal extremity spaced longitudinally outward from the base and formed into an apex which may be defined by a point or other configuration specifically structured to facilitate penetration or puncturing of bodily tissue. The apex may be substantially aligned with a linear extension of the central longitudinal axis of the shaft or alternatively, may be spaced laterally outward or off-set from the central longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering a guidewire, agents, and the like through an occlusion in a body vessel or other body lumen. The apparatus includes a flexible catheter or other elongate member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a body lumen, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to a distal region of the tubular member. An expandable sheath is provided on the distal region of the catheter that is expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the tubular member into a body lumen, to an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen communicating with and extending distally from the first lumen of the tubular member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical assembly includes an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly having a shell and an ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit housed within the shell, an ultrasonic transducer having a proximal end and an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end, an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end for receiving ultrasonic movement thereat, and a handle body having a waveguide attachment dock operable to accept the waveguide therein, an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly dock operable to selectively removably secure the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly thereto, and a transducer attachment dock operable to substantially simultaneously selectively removably and rotatably freely couple the ultrasonic transducer to the handle body rotationally independent of the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly and axially align the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end opposite the proximal end of the ultrasonic waveguide when the ultrasonic waveguide is disposed within the waveguide atta

Abstract: A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft (10) and a stent graft with its diameter reduced. The stent graft has a tubular body and self expanding stents.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical assembly includes a disposable ultrasonic waveguide, a reusable exterior body, and a cordless ultrasonic-movement-generation assembly removably disposed in the body and operable to generate ultrasonic movement of the waveguide when connected thereto. The assembly also includes a reusable and rechargeable battery disposed in the body, a disposable handle having both a waveguide attachment dock exposed to the environment and operably connecting the waveguide thereto and an aseptically sealable assembly dock exposed to the environment and shaped to connect the waveguide in the attachment dock to the assembly through the handle when the assembly is disposed in the assembly dock.

Abstract: There is provided a lancet firing device comprising a projection, configured to project into an interior cavity of a lancet body when a lancet having a lancet body is loaded into the firing device; and means to grip an inner wall of the lancet body, the means being disposed on the projection.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for a ornamental piercing of body parts are disclosed. Various embodiments of the invention employ a coupling needle in a cartridge which is used to pierce a body part and subsequently detached and replaced with a nut (such as a spherical cap). The coupling needle in the cartridge may be implemented as a component in a piercing system, e.g. using a sterile, disposable cartridge that is operated with a piercing gun. After piercing, the coupling needle may be used to draw a coupled ornamental piece through the pierced hole after which the coupling needle is detached and a nut or spherical cap is attached in its place to complete the piercing. The ornamental piece may be coupled to the coupling needle within the cartridge and operated with the piercing system or it may be attached after piercing.

Abstract: A skin care file includes a substantially linear handle portion, a substantially rounded file portion having an edge, and a substantially linear arm portion connecting the handle portion to the file portion. An angle between the handle portion and the arm portion is between approximately 15° and 60°. The file portion has a maximum dimension between approximately 0.5 and 1.5 inches. The file portion includes on at least one side and on at least a portion of the edge a grit surface having a grit between approximately 120 and 60 grit.

Abstract: A ring dissector/harvester device for dissecting and harvesting a vessel has a capture tool that is co-axially positioned around the vessel to at least temporarily hold the vessel. A sealing tool is coaxially positioned within the capture tool and is axially movable with respect to the capture tool. The sealing tool and the capture tool are engaged to cauterize a branch from the vessel and to seal the cauterized branch and vessel.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical assembly includes an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end for receiving ultrasonic movement thereat, an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly having a shell, an ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit housed within the shell, and an ultrasonic transducer having a proximal end disposed within the shell and an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end, and a handle body having a waveguide attachment dock operable to accept the waveguide therein, an assembly dock shaped to removably secure at least a portion of the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly thereat, the assembly dock operable to selectively removably secure at least the shell thereat and to position the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer co-axially opposite the proximal end of the ultrasonic waveguide when the ultrasonic waveguide is disposed within the waveguide attachment dock.