Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) the cannula has a lumen defined therein, (2) the trocar is positionable between a first trocar position and a second trocar position, (3) the trocar is positioned within the lumen of the cannula when the trocar is positioned at the first trocar position, and (4) the trocar is completely removed from the lumen of the cannula when the trocar is positioned at the second trocar position. The medical apparatus also includes a sleeve having a passageway extending therethrough, and a number of sealing members extending therefrom, wherein (1) the cannula is positionable between a first cannula position and a second cannula position, (2) the cannula is positioned within the passageway of the sleeve when the cannula is positioned at the first cannula position, and (3) the cannula is completely removed from the passageway of the sleeve when the cannula is positioned at the second cannula position.

Abstract: A safety medical needle device comprising a mechanism for releasing a latch which holds the needle in place and manually retracting the needle and its sharpened tip into safe containment in one continuous operation. The device may be made from but a single molded part. In the case of a single molded part, the device may consist of a molded body, a medical needle and a protective tube for the needle. The device preferably comprises a pair of winged attachments for use as a medical butterfly apparatus.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a shaft, a clamp support at a distal end of the shaft, and a clamp comprising a pair of pivotally mounted jaws within the clamp support. A handle at a proximal end of the shaft comprises an actuator for both opening and closing the jaws of the clamp and for rotating the jaws of the clamp about a deflected axis defined by the clamp support. The actuator includes a lever and a rotatable wheel which are coupled to the clamp via a flexible drive cable extending through the shaft and clamp support. The device is particularly useful for manipulating and driving curved surgical needles in thoracoscopic, laparoscopic, and other endoscopic suturing procedures.

Abstract: A surgical clip for connecting at least two bio-organic tissue members together, the clip comprising a body having two spaced legs and formed into a U-shape, each leg having a distal end which can be inserted into an opening in bone and each having a proximal end, the proximal ends of said at least two legs being connected to corresponding ends of a deformable bridge comprising two spaced apart bridge sections with a gap disposed between the bridge sections, the bridge sections being deformable by a force, the gap being changed by the force to cause the two spaced legs to move into engagement with side walls of the openings in the bone to which the clip is connected, the body comprising the at least two spaced legs and the two bridge sections comprising a single piece of material.

Abstract: A method for performing surgical procedures using a multi-functional access port for deploying a wide array of instruments and manipulation devices, including a surgeon's hand or fingers. The method includes optional video-assisted techniques and one or more components to aid in those techniques. The multi-functional access port includes a sealing ring providing easy access to the body cavity and to prevent contamination of one or more incisions of the body wall. The sealing ring may also be used to effect a seal when and if desired expansion of the body cavity is to be maintained. The sealing ring acts to isolate the exterior surface and optionally the interior surface of the body wall. Another component designed to aid in the surgical techniques of the present invention is a modified surgical glove that extends up to at least the surgeon's wrist.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for creating a seal around the inner wall of an incision in a blood vessel. The device is particularly adapted to create an anastomosis site for coronary artery bypass grafts to a patient's aorta without obstructing the flow of blood in the aorta. The device comprises an extruded tube with a translatable shaft positioned therein. One end of the shaft is coupled to a handle of the device which allows a practitioner to advance and withdraw the shaft relative to the tube. The other end of the shaft is connected to a flexible inverting member which is attached to the distal end of the tube. By manipulating the handle, the practitioner can remotely deform the inverting member between two configurations: an elongated, narrow configuration in which the inverting member is adapted to be inserted through a small incision, and an inverted configuration in which the inverting member forms an expanded, inward-facing cup.

Abstract: This invention is an optically activated transducer for generating acoustic vibrations in a biological medium. The transducer is located at the end of a fiber optic which may be located within a catheter. Energy for operating the transducer is provided optically by laser light transmitted through the fiber optic to the transducer. Pulsed laser light is absorbed in the working fluid of the transducer to generate a thermal pressure and consequent adiabatic expansion of the transducer head such that it does work against the ambient medium. The transducer returns to its original state by a process of thermal cooling. The motion of the transducer within the ambient medium couples acoustic energy into the medium. By pulsing the laser at a high repetition rate (which may vary from CW to 100 kHz) an ultrasonic radiation field can be established locally in the medium.

Abstract: An implantable marker for implantation in tissue of a surgical patient is disclosed. The marker has a base and an elevated bridge. A pair of legs descend from first and second transitions of the bridge. Each leg has a distal tip, a generally straight leg arm adjacent the tip, and a camming marker surface between the transitions of the base and the straight leg arm. The camming marker surfaces extend outwardly from the straight leg arms of the legs. In its open configuration, the first and second straight leg arms of the legs of the marker are generally parallel to each other. In its closed configuration, the first and second straight leg arms converge towards each other, and a marker apex is formed at the distal tips of the legs. The marker is particularly adapted for fixation in tissue to mark the site of a lesion or other abnormal tissue which may be removed during a biopsy procedure, for example a breast biopsy procedure.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a trocar assembly including a cannula and a trocar, wherein (1) the cannula has a lumen defined therein, (2) the trocar is positionable between a first trocar position and a second trocar position, (3) the trocar is positioned within the lumen of the cannula when the trocar is positioned at the first trocar position, and (4) the trocar is completely removed from the lumen of the cannula when the trocar is positioned at the second trocar position. The medical apparatus also includes a sleeve having a passageway extending therethrough, and a number of sealing members extending therefrom, wherein (1) the cannula is positionable between a first cannula position and a second cannula position, (2) the cannula is positioned within the passageway of the sleeve when the cannula is positioned at the first cannula position, and (3) the cannula is completely removed from the passageway of the sleeve when the cannula is positioned at the second cannula position.

Abstract: An expandable soft tissue fixation assembly for use in anchoring soft tissue to bone. The assembly includes a tab connected to an anchor, a sleeve adapted to surround the anchor, and a flange adapted to hold a soft tissue segment next to a bone. The sleeve is inserted into a blind hole in a bone, and a section of soft tissue is placed over the hole next to the bone. Energy is applied to the flange while a predetermined axial tension is applied to the tab to compress a flared portion of the anchor against the sleeve. An upper tube portion of the anchor and the flange are bonded together, and the applied axial force on the tab separates it from the anchor, leaving the assembly anchored in the bone and the soft tissue section anchored in place between the flange and the bone.

Abstract: The surgical suturing apparatus is configured to pass a surgical suturing needle having an associated length of suture material attached thereto between opposed pairs of jaws. The surgical suturing apparatus generally includes a housing having an elongated tubular portion extending distally therefrom. A pair of jaws extend distally from the elongated tubular portion and are each individually longitudinally movable with respect to the elongated tubular portion and with respect to each other. Each of the jaw structures includes a jaw and a securing mechanism for tightly holding the surgical needle within the jaw. Parts of the securing mechanism engaging the needle also move longitudinally with respect to the associated jaw and the elongated tubular portion. Various control structures are provided to advance the securing mechanism relative to its associated jaw to secure the surgical needle therein and to move the entire jaw structure longitudinally with respect to the suturing apparatus.

Abstract: A system, a closure, and method of use for sealing a percutaneous puncture in a blood vessel. The puncture includes an opening in the vessel wall and a tract leading to the opening. The system includes an introducer sheath and associated positioning device, a hemostatic puncture closure, and a deployment instrument. The positioning device enables the introducer sheath to be positioned at a desired position within the vessel. The deployment instrument includes a tubular carrier storing the closure. The closure comprises a rigid, e.g., radio-opaque, anchor, a compressed collagen plug, and a thin filament connecting the two in a pulley-like arrangement. The instrument and introducer are used to introduce the closure into the puncture, with the anchor located within the artery and with the collagen plug within the puncture tract. A locking member is provided to hold the closure in place at its operative position, whereupon hemostasis occurs rapidly, thereby sealling the puncture.

Abstract: A head covering for at least lifting the face that includes a head covering for covering the entire head and neck and apparatus for simulating the muscles of the head and neck. The head covering has an inner ply for directly overlying the entire head and neck and an outer ply that directly and entirety overlies the inner ply, with both being light weight felt material so as to conform to the entire head and neck without discomfort thereto. The apparatus includes a plurality of vibrators between the inner and outer plies.

Abstract: To stimulate the formation of new tissue in tissue defects, in addition to a constant distraction force, a periodically changing tractive force superimposed thereon is applied to the tissue regions adjacent to the tissue defect. To this end, a traction cable (12) holds the distraction means (10) arranged at the wound and is kept under traction at the other end. The traction cable (12) is deflected transversely by an eccentric (18) to generate the periodic tractive force.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided comprising a coiled sheet having a plurality of flaps mounted on its interior surface that project radially inward into a lumen formed by the interior surface of the apparatus when it is deployed. The flaps lie parallel to the interior surface of the sheet during transluminal delivery, but project radially inward once the apparatus is deployed. The flaps may comprise a fine mesh for use as a filter, or alternatively may be covered with a biocompatible material that is substantially impermeable, so as to partially or completely occlude the lumen. In a further alternative embodiment, the flaps may comprise a resilient biocompatible plastic or polymer, so that the flaps move in response to the flow and function as a pressure-based or directional valve.

Abstract: A clip, clip applier and method for ligating a tissue structure is provided. The applier has a two stage actuation. In the first stage, a tissue structure is positioned into the jaws of the clip applier. The jaws close and lock to a preset force to compress and temporarily occlude the tissue structure. If satisfactorily positioned, the second stage is initiated in which a clip is advanced through the shaft of the clip applier in a closed position. At the distal end of the clip applier, the clip is opened slightly to capture the pre-compressed tissue structure, and is placed over the structure. The clip is then dissociated from the business end of the instrument. Preferably the clip comprises two leg members disposed in close proximity to one another joined from opposing directions by a connecting element. The connecting element restricts separation of the leg members with opposing spring members so as to provide substantially uniform parallel deflection of the leg members from each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting a large volume of blood from an umbilical cord in a sterile environment are shown and described. A housing having an inner region adapted to retain an umbilical cord in a desired location is provided, the housing having an opening through which the cord extends from the inner region of the housing to a region external to the housing. The cord is cut by a blade coupled to the housing, either by the motion of the blade from a first position to a second position, or by the movement of two portions of the housing from a first extended position to a second collapsed position. The newly cut end of the umbilical cord falls and hangs freely in the inner region of the housing, blood flowing from the placenta and umbilical cord via gravity into a blood collection region of the housing. The blood collection region may be flexible, and may be coupled to a conventional blood collection bag.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of suturing a body part by the use of an elongated articulable suture device comprising the steps of: providing a handle having a proximal end and a distal end; attaching an elongated, articulable suture needle at the distal end of the handle; placing a movable sheath about the suture needle; threading a tensionable member through the suture needle from a proximal to distal path and back again through a distal to proximal path, one end of the tensional member being fixed to the handle, and a second end of the tensional member being attached to a tension adjusting member; placing a suture thread in a holder in said distalmost end of the suture and threading a body part by movement of the suture needle about a body part.

Abstract: A tendon repair clip implant system for placement on the dorsal side of a cerated or torn tendon to allow active range of motion post tendon repair, comprises: first and second clips. Each clip comprises:(i) two serrated sections joined by integral connecting section; the serrated sections being urgeable together to provide opposing mating teeth connection by arculate bending longitudinally around an axis of the connecting section;ii) the repair clip further comprising two relatively flat surfaces adjoining the connecting section and having openings therein through which sutures may be threaded and drawn through a lacerated tendon to assist in holding said tendon together; the openings being centered between a plurality of spikes extending from undersides of the flat surfaces to function as tendon inserts to assist in holding the lacerated tendon together.

Abstract: A taper point surgical suture needle. The suture needle is an elongated member having a proximal suture mounting end and a distal piercing point. The elongated member has a first tapered region adjacent to the piercing point having a taper ratio of about 12:1. The member also has a second tapered region adjacent to the first tapered region having a taper ration of from about 6:1 to about 11:1. And, the member additionally has a third region adjacent to the second tapered region having a taper ratio of at least about 12:1.