Abstract: A portable surgical tray unit can include a portable surgical tray for housing a processing unit, and that includes an opening extending entirely therethrough. The portable surgical tray unit can also include a plurality of instruments connected to the portable surgical tray and operably coupled to the processing unit, and a user input device positioned on at least one of the instruments. The user input device can be operably coupled to the processing unit and can be configured to receive a user input for controlling an operating parameter of one or more of the instruments. The processing unit can be configured to receive user input through the user input device and transmit an operating command to the one or more instruments. The portable surgical tray and the plurality of instruments can be sterilized and prepackaged in a single package.

Abstract: A skin pricking device includes first (12) and second (14) housing parts telescopically coupled together. A lancet (26) and a firing mechanism (32,38) are disposed within the first housing part, whilst a membrane (25) is disposed over an open end of the first housing part to seal the first housing part containing the lancet and the firing mechanism. Movement of the second housing part towards the first housing part activates the firing mechanism thereby driving a tip (30) of the lancet through the membrane and through an opening (18) in the second housing part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a segmental self-sealing graft for implantation in a patient including a base tubing element, a tubular access element overlying the base tubing, and a strand-like compression element wound over the access element so as to provide radially inward compression, and a method of making same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an implant of autogenous bone. Generally, the implant may be taken from a selected bone portion and implanted into another selected bone portion within during a procedure. The method may be used in conjunction with soft tissue reinsertion or attachment to the selected implant site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for footcare, which comprises an abrasive body (1) and members for supporting the abrasive body (1) relatively a ground, the abrasive body (1) has an external surface, and the external surface is at least partly abrasive, whereby the portion of the external surface of the abrasive body (1) that is abrasive comprises a number of partial surfaces, and these partial surfaces comprises at least a concave surface (9, 12) and a convex surface (10, 15). A main surface (9), which at the position of the abrasive body (1) on the ground is faced upwardly, has two concave partial surfaces (A, B) angled against each other, whereby a first part-surface (A) has an angle in the range 15-45° in relation to the ground and a second partial surface (B) has an angle up to 15° in relation to the ground.

Abstract: Several embodiments of medical ultrasound handpieces are described each including a medical ultrasound transducer assembly. An embodiment of a medical ultrasound system is described, wherein the medical ultrasound system includes a medical ultrasound handpiece having a medical ultrasound transducer assembly and includes an ultrasonically-vibratable medical-treatment instrument which is attachable to a distal end of the transducer assembly. An embodiment of a medical ultrasound system is described, wherein the medical ultrasound system has a handpiece including a medical ultrasound transducer assembly and including a housing or housing component surrounding the transducer assembly. A method for tuning a medical ultrasound handpiece includes machining at least a distal non-threaded portion of an instrument-attachment stud of the transducer assembly to match a measured fundamental frequency to a desired fundamental frequency to within a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A system for treatment of a vessel bifurcation and its method of use comprises a catheter having a catheter shaft, a portion of which is characterized as an axle about which a rotatable assembly is disposed and rotatable thereabout. The system employs a series of lumens, openings and/or ports to provide a balloon mounted on the rotatable assembly with fluid communication to the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A tissue shredding device is provided which includes a shredding pipe which is inserted into a patient body in which a plurality of opening portions is formed in a longitudinal direction; and a plurality of wires which is withdrawn from the opening portion, bent back outside the shredding pipe, and drawn into the shredding pipe. Here, the tissue shredding device may be changed to one of a first arrangement in which the wires are withdrawn from the shredding pipe so that a tissue can be introduced toward top portions corresponding to bent-back parts of the plurality of wires, a second arrangement in which the top portions are arranged opposite to the shredding pipe, and a third arrangement in which the wires are drawn into the opening portion.

Abstract: A surgical tool useful for connecting an abdominal aortic stent or the like to tissue may include a head holding at least one fastener, a shaft, and a joint connecting the head to the shaft, the joint allowing the head to rotate in at least one direction relative to the shaft. That surgical tool may be used to connect a graft assembly to tissue, where the graft assembly may include a graft connected to a stent. The graft, stent and surgical tool may be inserted into a body lumen; and the head of the surgical tool may be pivoted relative to the shaft such that the distal end of the head contacts the interior of the stent. At least one fastener is then deployed to connect the stent to the body lumen.

Abstract: An intraocular lens insertion tool of a novel structure, capable of easily and reliably placing an intraocular lens in a human eye. A placement part formed communicated with the base end of an insertion tube part is formed in a tool body. A placement surface for placing an intraocular lens thereon is formed on the placement part. Through-holes are formed in the portion where the placement surface is formed, and a carrying member is assembled from the outside to the portion where the placement surface is formed. Support parts formed projected from the carrying member are projected from the support surface through the through-holes. The intraocular lens is supported by projecting distal end faces of the support parts.

Abstract: A rotational device for removing a stenotic lesion from within a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a flexible hollow drive shaft having a distal end insertable into the vessel and an abrasive element located on the drive shaft proximal to the distal end of the drive shaft to abrade a stenotic lesion when the drive shaft rotates. The hollow drive shaft defines a lumen for fluid supplied into the drive shaft to flow in an antegrade direction along the lumen and into the vessel from the drive shaft distal to the abrasive element so that the fluid entering the vessel flows in a retrograde direction over the abrasive element and die drive shaft to entrain debris abraded by the abrasive element for removal of said debris from the patient.

Abstract: A device for osteoligamentous resection comprising a resector having a shaft with a resecting tip at its distal end, and a retractor at least partially surrounding the resector, and at least part of the retractor being moveable relative to the resector.

Abstract: A method includes deploying a bloused stent-graft into a main vessel such that a bloused section of the bloused stent-graft covers a branch vessel emanating from the main vessel. The bloused section includes loose graft cloth. A pressure differential between the main vessel and the branch vessel causes the bloused section to be forced into an ostium of the branch vessel creating a pocket aligned with the branch vessel. A distal tip of a puncture device is located in the pocket and thus aligned with the branch vessel. An outward force is applied to the puncture device to cause the distal tip of the puncture device to fenestrate the bloused section thus creating a collateral opening in the bloused section precisely aligned with the branch vessel.

Abstract: A variably flexible insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. Tendons within the hollow body maintain the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions. A method for variably flexing an insertion device for receiving an instrument, includes providing a hollow body having inner and outer sleeves defining a space therebetween in which tendons are disposed. Suction is applied to create a vacuum in the space for frictionally locking the tendons in place between the sleeves in a relatively stiff condition of the hollow body. The vacuum is relieved to release the tendons in a relatively flexible condition of the hollow body.

Abstract: The system and method creates immediate supplemental blood flow into an organ by punching a cannula into the organ to remove a core of the organ. The process of punching creates essentially no heat and therefore does not cauterize the wound. In the case of the heart this results in immediate supplemental blood flow into the heart muscle. Animal tests have shown this immediate blood flow is sufficient to sustain the heart even when a major coronary artery is completely blocked. The procedure may be performed in an open surgical field procedure by punching cores from the outside of the heart in or it may be a percutaneous catheter procedure punching cores from the inside-out of an organ.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed herein regard simplifying and improving the performance and reliability of pneumatic actuators operable to actuate surgical cutters or shears. Various embodiments include systems and methods for vitreous cutting apparatuses utilizing self-valving vitreous cutters that actuate at a frequency based on the properties of the vitreous cutter.

Abstract: A surgical tissue retrieval instrument has a collapsible pouch at the distal end of an elongated pusher rod that is introduced into a patient's abdomen through a cannula. The instrument includes a two-jaw fork that forms a loop when in an unconstrained configuration and that supports the pouch. Deployment and operation of the fork and the pouch are controlled by a toggle means. The two jaws and the toggle means are slid in a hem surrounding the opening of the pouch when the device is assembled. An especially advantageous embodiment features two jaws of unequal length.

Abstract: A microkeratome that includes a latch assembly that couples a head to a hand piece. The latch assembly allows the head to be readily detached from the hand piece and sterilized. There is no need to also sterilize the hand piece. The microkeratome also has a ring assembly that is coupled to the head and the hand piece. The ring assembly may include a fastener that can be unfastened to allow the hand piece and head to be detached from the ring, even while the ring assembly is fixed to a cornea. The hand piece includes a motor that moves the blade across the ring. The microkeratome may have an aspiration connector with a collar that limits the travel of the blade the and thickness of a resulting lamella flap. The aspiration connector can be replaced with a collar of a different diameter to produce a flap with a different thickness.

Abstract: A skin pricking apparatus includes a casing 1, a lancet 19 located within the casing, and a firing mechanism 5,13,31 for causing a needle tip 22 of the lancet 19 to be driven through an opening 14 in the casing to prick the skin of a user. The firing mechanism including a mechanical interlock 6,27 which is released by substantially simultaneous external pressure applied separately to two spaced apart components 5,13 of the firing mechanism by a user.

Abstract: An embolic protection filter having an inverted membrane with improved blood perfusion characteristics is disclosed. An embolic protection filter in accordance with the present invention comprises a filter frame disposable about a guidewire, a support hoop coupled to a plurality of expandable struts, and an inverted membrane for filtering embolic debris. The inverted membrane has a tapered proximal section and an enlarged diameter distal section. Features of the present invention permit the perfusion of blood through the filter irrespective of embolic debris entrained therein.