Abstract: Catheter systems and methods for implanting helical or dart-like implants into the myocardium or other body tissue. The catheter system includes a helix for fixing the distal end of the catheter to the myocardium, an implant held by the helix, mechanisms for driving the fixation helix into the myocardium, and mechanisms for driving the implant into the myocardium, removing the fixation helix and leaving the implant behind. The implant may be coated, filled, or made of a drug or drug eluting compound, or drug delivery matrix of any composition.

Abstract: A method to improve phacoemulsification efficiency by providing bursts of axial ultrasonic activity in synchronization with a fraction of a lower frequency axial oscillatory activity, the fraction corresponding to the portion of the low frequency signal that displaces toward the lens fragments and distally from the phacoemulsification hand-piece. Ultrasonic bursts synchronized with displacement of the phacoemulsification needle tip toward the lens tissue increases efficiency allowing the reduction of the required ultrasonic power minimizing heat generation and cavitation.

Abstract: A catheter housing assembly having a housing, a needle assembly with a rigid portion and a flexible portion, a recoil device positioned in an interior area of the housing for coiling the flexible portion of the needle assembly therearound, and a trigger connected to the housing so as to retract the rigid portion of the needle into the interior area of the housing. The rigid portion of the needle assembly extends tangentially outwardly of the housing. The flexible portion of the needle assembly has a bead, a flexible line extending through the bead, a first rigid spacer connected to the rigid portion of the needle assembly and a plurality of additional rigid spacers interposed in jointed relationship between the bead and the first rigid spacer.