Abstract: A system and method removes material from the wall of a passage, such as a vein or artery, in a patient's body with a series of bristles that are rotated. The bristles are part of a sweep catheter having a proximal end and a distal end with a tip thereon. Bristles next to the tip extend out from the distal end a shorter distance than the bristles further from the tip. The bristles, which have smaller bristles or sub-bristles thereon, are inclined away from the tip as they extend out from the distal end of the sweep catheter. The bristles push removed materials away from the tip and towards a suction channel of a guide catheter whereby the materials are removed.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the appearance of a body area having wrinkles, blemishes or excess mass or having been disfigured by an injury such as a burn. A cosmetic mask having a specially sculpted body contacting surface adapted to treat a subject's distinctive bodily characteristics is formed by first forming a negative impression of the subject's targeted body area; filling the impression with a hardening material; when the hardening material has hardened, separating the impression from the hardening material, the hardening material being in the form of a mold reflecting a positive image of the body area; sculpting the mold to achieve a desired body contacting surface; and forming a mask from the mold. After the mask is formed it is applied to the body area for a time sufficient to enhance the appearance of the body area.

Abstract: A replaceable flexible protective cover for an infusion device formed from a transparent membrane adhesive on one side affixable to the skin of a person to surround at least a part of the infusion device, and the membrane includes a portion through which a portion of the device passes and grips the infusion device to assure stability as well as added waterproof characteristic to the cover.

Abstract: A new endocystotomy tool for suprapubic cystostomy has a rigid sound, said rigid sound having standard configuration such as a standard Van Buren urethral sound. Said rigid sound having a distal end, said distal end having a removable tip, said removable tip being rounded. A second embodiment of said new endocystotomy tool for suprapubic cystostomy has an extendable trocar slidably seated within the rigid sound. Said second embodiment of said new endocystotomy tool for suprapubic cystostomy having a proximate end thereof which is provided with an insufflation port and a spring loaded plunger, which spring loaded plunger activates said extendable trocar. Either a catheter, a sheath, or a cystoscope is passed inside the tip of the new endocystotomy tool and secured therein. Thus the catheter, sheath, or cystoscope easily slides through the abdominal wall and bladder, i.e., the diameter of the catheter, sheath, or the cystoscope being smaller than the diameter of the new endocystotomy tool.

Abstract: An emboli capturing system captures emboli in blood flowing in the vasculature. The emboli capturing system includes a guidewire having a longitudinal axis and defining a lumen along at least a portion thereof. An expandable member is coupled to a distal portion of the guidewire and has an interior being in fluid communication with the lumen in the guidewire. The expandable member is configured to receive fluid through the lumen to expand radially outwardly relative to the guidewire and have fluid removed from the interior thereof to collapse radially inwardly relative to the guidewire. The expandable member, when expanded, has a spaced portion thereof spaced radially outwardly from the guidewire. An emboli capturing device is coupled to the expandable member and is configured to deploy radially outwardly relative to the guidewire upon expansion of the expandable member.

Abstract: A method and device for sealing an opening in an anatomical structure within a living body involves the positioning of the tissue adjacent to the opening within a gap formed by a central part of a flexible tube between proximal and distal parts thereof. A movable surface coupled to the central part is also provided so that, in a first configuration, the movable surface is substantially continuous with outer surfaces of the proximal and distal parts and, in a second configuration, the movable surface projects away from the outer surfaces of the proximal and distal parts. A first needle coupled to a suture loop is drawn from a needle retention channel formed within the distal part through the tissue received in the gap and into a needle receiving channel formed within the proximal part. After the device has been rotated to a second position, the procedure is repeated and a second needle attached to the suture loop is drawn through the tissue in the same manner.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering self-expanding stents and other helical prostheses comprises a catheter body having a rotatable barrel at its distal end. The helical prosthesis is received within a helical channel on the rotatable barrel and covered with a retractable cover. Optionally, the channel includes a split membrane for covering the helical stent and preventing direct engagement by the stent against the cover. As the cover is retracted, the stent deploys radially outward and engages an inner wall of the lumen in which it is being deployed. Uncoiling or unwinding of the stent is accommodated by rotation of the barrel so that the stent is not dragged against the inner luminal wall potentially damaging said wall.

Abstract: A pre-slit injection site includes a housing with a flow path therethrough. A first end of the housing carries a pre-slit septum. One form of a blunt cannula, usable with the injection site, carries a locking member. When the pre-slit injection site slidably receives the blunt cannula, the locking member latches to the injection site and creates a mechanically coupled unit. Another form of the cannula includes a tube having a tapered distal end region and having elongate discharge slots for reducing contact surface area and for directing the flow laterally out of the cannula. The cannula may also include a rounded lead post, an annular barb, and axially oriented grooves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conversion kit for converting a machine designed for intravascular injection of solutions, such as parenteral solutions, using high-pressure syringes, to a machine that can be used for injection using smaller manual syringes. The conversion kit, includes at least one conversion vessel (13) for releasable but substantially non-rotary reception of a high-pressure syringe with a cylindrical guide (19) formed through a receiving head (14) of the conversion vessel (13) and a recess (17) formed in the upper surface of the receiving head (14). The recess (17) may also receive the radial end regions of wing extensions of a manual syringe of predetermined size. The conversion kit also includes at least one reducing sleeve (23) for reducing the effective inner diameter of the guide (19), the reducing sleeve (23) adapted to snugly receive the outer diameter of a manual syringe (12).

Abstract: There is provided a high bend strength double pointed surgical needle, or surgical incision member, which includes a suture hole intermediate the points and a pair of crimping bulges adjacent the suture hole. The high strength surgical needle further includes transverse slots adjacent each pointed end.

Abstract: An instrument for vascular surgery includes a deformable cylindrical sleeve whose proximal end is integral with a distal end of a sheath and whose distal end is integral with a distal and of a catheter contained in the sheath. The sleeve can pass from a contracted state to a dilated state, and vice versa, by exerting a reciprocating movement on the catheter in relation to the sheath. The sleeve is made up of a latticework embedded in an envelope. This instrument can be used for the dilation or temporary occlusion of a blood vessel, or for performing an embolectomy.

Abstract: A device for incising and dilating a stenosis in a vessel of a patient includes a dilator housing and a plurality of blades which can be selectively extended from the housing. Specifically, the housing is formed to surround a chamber and the chamber contains an inflatable balloon. The plurality of blades are formed to have a falciform shape with a curving cutting edge and a similar, curving inner edge. The blades are mounted on the inflatable balloon and pass through slits in the housing. The housing is attached to a placement catheter which includes a lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon. In the operation of the device, the balloon is selectively inflated within the chamber to move the device between a retracted and an expanded configuration. In the retracted configuration, the balloon is deflated and the blades are withdrawn into the housing and the housing is used as a dilator.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument for cutting joint tissue includes an outer tubular member, or cannula, sized for percutaneous insertion into an anatomical space, such as s joint space in the spine. The outer tubular member has a cutting opening at its blunt-tipped distal end. The proximal end is supported by a handpiece. A cutting member is slidably disposed within the outer tubular member and includes a tubular cutting head portion defining an end opening and a cutting edge at the end opening. In the specific embodiment, the cutting member is a tubular tubular member having a cutting head portion at its distal end and a body portion extending therefrom to the handpiece. A hinge is integrally formed in the tubular cannula to connect the cutting head portion with said body portion, to permit pivoting of the cutting head portion relative to the body portion. As the cutting member is reciprocated within the outer cannula, the cutting edge contacts tissue drawn into the cutting opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing a skin incision has an incision blade having at least three facets and at least one sharpened apex. Each of the facets narrows down to one of the apexes. A housing having an exterior surface adapted to be placed flush against the skin and an elongated slot located on the exterior of the surface housing the incision blade. A blade pivoting mechanism located in the housing guides the incision blade through the slot. The blade pivoting mechanism has a first end and second end wherein the first end is pivotally coupled to the housing and the second end supports the incision blade. An actuatable depressing mechanism, located within the housing means, engages and holds the blade pivoting mechanism in a set position, preventing the pivotal movement of the blade pivoting mechanism within the housing.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter has a balloon near the distal end of a catheter shaft and a pair of radiopaque markers positioned within the balloon interior. The distal marker is disposed on an inner shaft member, and the proximal marker is disposed at the distal end of an outer shaft member. The markers may be positioned to indicate under fluoroscopy the position and working length of the balloon.

Abstract: A surgical guidance device for the precise positioning of a surgical object comprises a base having three feet which define a first plane and which are adapted for location on markers secured to a patient's body. The device includes a swivel head which is constrained for movement in a second plane, and a guide for the surgical object. The guide is mounted on the swivel head so that it can swivel with respect to the swivel head in all directions about a pivot point. The device also includes a locking member for locking the swivel head in a selected translational position in the second plane and the guide in a selected angular position with respect to the swivel head. The surgical guidance device forms part of a kit including three markers securable to a patient's body and on which the feet of the device are respectively locatable.

Abstract: A nose orthopedic device includes a pair of raiser arms having pressing tab portions provided at respective distal ends thereof. A resilient device is provided between the two raiser arms for urging the pressing tab portions against each other. The pressing tab portions are moved into contact with and separated from each other by the operation of the two raiser arms.

Abstract: An improved positioning assembly for positioning and holding a cornea of an eye during surgery comprising a positioning ring, a suction force operably coupled to the positioning ring to temporarily attach it to the eye and a suction enhancement member. The positioning ring includes a retention plate, having an aperture defined therein to receive the cornea of the eye and an interior rim disposed in surrounding relation about the aperture, and a flange member extending downwardly from the retention plate in spaced, surrounding relation to the aperture. The positioning ring further includes a vacuum port in fluid flow communication with a point radially interior of the flange member such that a suction force applied therethrough secures the positioning ring to the eye with the cornea protruding through the aperture.

Abstract: A wire-guided esophageal bougie comprises a PTFE-lined, silicone rubber tube with a tapered, silicone rubber dilator on its distal end, the dilator being more flexible than the PTFE-lined tube. Radiopaque material throughout the length of the tube renders it fluoroscopically visible in the esophagus while a radiopaque ring in the dilator fluoroscopically locates the position of the dilator relative to a stricture.

Abstract: The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing and removing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Instrumentation includes tissue spreaders and cutting instruments. In particular, the tissue spreading instruments include instruments for spreading pre-sacral tissue such as fascia and for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc. Endoscopic cutting instruments deliver a cutting blade in a sheathed position to the site of the disc nucleus followed by deployment to remove portions of the disc nucleus.