Abstract: A step knife for use in eye surgery has a blade which extends a predetermined length beyond a footplate. The blade has a sharpened lower edge and each of the sides have a sharpened portion near the lower edge and an unsharpened portion near the footplate.

Abstract: A thrombus filter configured for placement within a blood vessel lumen defined by a blood vessel wall. The thrombus filter includes a body member, and a plurality of wires. Each wire has a joined end and a free end. The joined end of each wire is fixedly attached to the distal portion of the body member. Each wire radiates away from the body member along a generally helical path of expanding diameter. The shape of each wire may be generally described as a spiral, or a helix of expanding diameter. The wires radiate away from the body member to form a generally conical filtering portion which includes a plurality of open cells. The thrombus filter may be removed using minimally invasive methods when such removal becomes desirable. A method of removing the thrombus filter is disclosed.

Abstract: An external tubular vascular stapling device is provided for anastomosing a vascular graft to an anastomosis sheath, the latter being initially attached to an arterial or aortic wall, followed by a secondary anastomosis of the sheath to the vascular graft. The procedure enables the device and method to obviate the need for arterial occluding clamps, and produces a stable anastomosis connection. A suitable anastomosing device for this procedure comprises a stapler housing and a separate, multi-grooved anvil which when assembled, form double aligned tubes. The stapling housing includes staple wires and staple pushers mounted within slots oriented orthogonally to the anvil grooves, the vascular graft, and the anastomosis sheath. The distal end of the vascular graft is passed through the tubular portion of the anvil and everted over the end of the anvil. The proximal end of the graft is either tied off or temporarily cross-clamped with vascular clamps.

Abstract: A declotting method and apparatus. A declotting apparatus includes a catheter, a member positioned within the catheter, and a plurality of deformable members. The plurality of members bow and compress as the catheter slides relative to the member so that a site may be declotted. In another embodiment, a declotting apparatus includes a first and second catheter, a guidewire, a deformable jacket, and a liner. The deformable jacket expands and contracts as the first catheter slides relative to the second catheter so that a site may be declotted. The guidewire facilitates navigation, and the liner prevents material from entering the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides laparoscopic forceps which can grasp surgical and/or laparoscopic implements and automatically orient the surgical and/or laparoscopic implements to a predetermined orientation. The forceps are fashioned specifically for grasping the laparoscopic implement, and include grasping mechanisms located at one end of the shaft. The grasping mechanisms include orienting mechanisms effective to orient the implement in a predetermined orientation with respect to the forceps. In favorable embodiments, the grasping mechanism is effective to orient the implement automatically in the predetermined orientation, and consists of two jaws, each jaw including a flat surface and a recessed seat for receiving a portion of the implement defined on the flat surface of at least one of the jaws.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating stenoses at bifurcated regions of body lumens is disclosed. A balloon catheter system is disclosed comprising two balloon catheters, or a balloon catheter having a bifurcated distal end, with a linking guide wire lumen at the distal end of one balloon catheter, or one branch of the bifurcated catheter, for linking the two balloons or branches such that the device can be tracked to a treatment site. Once at the treatment site, the balloon catheters or branches of the bifurcated distal end can be unlinked and separately positioned within the branches of the bifurcated body lumen. The apparatus can also serve as a delivery system for multiple prostheses or a bifurcated endoluminal prosthesis.

Abstract: A vascular filter-comprises an emboli-capturing portion having a set of helical filter-wires joined at a central region and extending in a given direction along the blood vessel in a diverging relationship to the axis of the filter, the wires terminating in free ends constructed to engage the walls of said vessel. A major mid-portion of the length of the free ended wires are of generally helical form, cooperatively related to form an effective emboli capturing array. Anchoring is accomplished by a separate assembly formed of struts and anchoring devices. A parallelogram supporting strut assembly and other members for providing linear engagement with the wall of the vena cava are shown. The parallelogram structure is shown to have filter capability by itself as well.

Abstract: A kit of assemblable components for implantation into the bone of a mammal for use in distraction osteogenesis. The kit comprises a fixture, a footing and a distracter, the fixture including a longitudinally extending body portion with a proximal end and a distal end, the body portion having an exterior surface adapted for contact and integration with bone tissue, the body portion having a generally longitudinally extending bore extending from a proximal opening adjacent the proximal end to a distal opening adjacent the distal end. The footing includes a proximal surface and a distal surface. The distracter comprises a generally rod-shaped body including a distal end and a proximal end, and the proximal end of the distracter is adapted to bear against the footing. There are first and second engaging means on the fixture and the distracter respectively for adjustably locating the fixture relative to the distracter.

Abstract: An athetectomy catheter is disclosed having a composite cutter which is capable of cutting material, including hardened plaque, from a biological conduit. The composite cutter has a cutter and a sensor mount. The cutter has a proximal end and a distal end with a cutting edge. The proximal end of the cutter bonds with the sensor mount. The sensor mount is adaptable for holding a sensor and attaching to a cutter torque cable of an atherectomy catheter. Typically, the atherectomy catheter has a cutter housing with a window. The composite cutter is positioned in the cutter housing and moves in response to movement of the cutter torque cable to cut material from the biological conduit via the window.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail having dual distal bore formation is comprised of a nail having a longitudinal centerline extending between a distal end and a proximal end. The nail defines a proximal attachment orientation adjacent the proximal end. The nail also defines a left distal bore and a right distal bore adjacent the distal end. The left distal bore and the right distal bore are anteverted in different directions about the longitudinal centerline with respect to the proximal attachment orientation. Thus the same nail can be used in an interlocking, reconstructive or retrograde fashion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for stimulating revascularization and tissue growth are provided using an apparatus having a directable end region carrying a tissue piercing end effector. The apparatus optionally includes electrodes for depositing RF energy to form a controlled degree of scar tissue formation, means for delivering a controlled amount of a bioactive agent at the treatment site, or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-expanding stent delivery system comprising a catheter, a self-expanding stent having a plurality of interconnected expansion cells therein and concentrically arranged around the catheter near the distal end of the catheter, a retractable sheath for covering the stent constructed and arranged for retraction to release the stent to self-expand, and a stent holder abutting the stent for holding the stent in place until the retractable sheath is fully retracted. During retraction of the retractable cover, the stent holder prevents the stent from substantially moving longitudinally until the retractable sheath has been completely removed from the stent.

Abstract: A multi-function ultrasonic surgical instrument operable to perform a number of surgical procedures including: 1) scoring of tissue to a controlled depth, 2) coaptive transection of vessels utilizing a clamping mechanism, 3) coagulation under tension with a blunt edge, 4) coaptive coagulation and ablation, and 5) tissue nibbling. The multi-function ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an elongated ultrasonic waveguide and an ultrasonic end effector at a distal end of the waveguide. The ultrasonic end effector includes a recessed ultrasonic blade extending axially along a first side of the ultrasonic end effector, a distal ultrasonic blade located at the distal end of the end effector. The multi-function ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes a sheath slideably positioned on the elongated ultrasonic waveguide, wherein the sheath may be slideably positioned to expose portions of the end effector according to the surgical procedure being conducted.

Abstract: A device for dissolving friable or coagulated tissue within a human body is provided, such lysing operation being achieved through high-speed rotation of at least one thread- or ribbon-like lysing member. Lysing is achieved through shear and/or wear. A flexible drive member, used to rotate the at least one lysing member, may be received within an encompassing, static flexible member. Interaction between the rotating flexible drive member and the encompassing static flexible member causes at least lysed tissue to be pumped and further dissolved along the encompassed length of the flexible drive member.

Abstract: A dilation balloon for a catheter with improved folding characteristics for insertion into a body conduit. The balloon surface is generally textured, having a reduced texture longitudinal strip causing preferential controlled folding along the strip. The preferential folding creates curved wings which fold together upon further deflation. The curved, folded wings result in a decreased profile having wing edges oriented so as to decrease contact with conduit walls. A preferred embodiment has raised radial ridges extending around a portion of the circumference of the balloon and a smooth longitudinal surface radially therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical chisel for removing a section of bone. The surgical chisel includes a body having a cannulation which extends from the distal end of the body through at least a portion of the body and is configured and dimensioned to receive a guide wire; and a blade attached to the distal end of the body and having a sharp edge for impacting bone. Introducing the guide wire into the cannulation guides the chisel to the section of bone to be removed. The present invention also relates to a method of removing a section of bone with a chisel. The method includes the steps of inserting a portion of a guide wire into a bone; guiding the chisel blade to the section of bone along the guide wire; and impacting the chisel blade into the bone to remove a section thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and process for correlating points on a spatial body to corresponding points on a database body formed from pre-aquired images of the spatial body. The system and process involve matching the spatial points with the corresponding database points using relative positional information between the spatial points and the database points. Symmetric false matches are detected and discarded by fitting the spatial points and database points to a first and second closed body, respectively, and comparing the orientation of the spatial points and the database points projected onto the closed bodies.

Abstract: Immobilization and/or retrieval of material from a body can be accomplished, in accordance with the invention, with a device that includes a sheath and a basket. The basket is movable relative to the sheath from a retracted position in which the basket is withdrawn within the sheath and an expanded position in which the basket is extended beyond the distal end of the sheath and open. The basket has a first portion and a second portion with two or more legs extending from the first portion to the second portion. The basket further includes an intermediate portion between the first and second portions in which the legs are spirally arranged, substantially parallel, and non-intersecting. The intermediate portion of the basket is displaced radially outward relative to the first and second portions when the basket is in the expanded position. The basket in the expanded position may be used to immobilize and/or capture material within a body.

Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasound instrument is described for cutting, dissecting, or cauterizing tissue. Ultrasonic vibrations, when transmitted to organic tissue at suitable energy levels and using a suitable end-effector, may be used for the safe and effective treatment of many medical conditions. An ultrasonic surgical instrument is described which incorporates an articulating end-effector. The instrument comprises an ultrasonic signal generator, an ultrasonically actuated end-effector, and a substantially solid ultrasonic waveguide which connects the ultrasonic signal generator to the end-effector. The waveguide comprises a transmission section extending from the signal generator to a fixed node, and an articulation section extending from the fixed node to an pivoting node. The end-effector includes a waveguide segment. A handle is adapted to hold the signal generator. An outer sheath extends from the handle to the end-effector and surrounds the waveguide.

Abstract: A surgical knife which provides improved multi-sided incisions and is preferably allows for a substantially cruciate, or cross-shaped incision. The surgical knife includes a handle and a multi-bladed portion located at one end of the handle. The handle is sized and configured to maximize grip and surgical manipulation thereof. The multi-bladed portion is formed from a primary blade and a secondary blade. The primary blade is configured with two exemplary primary blade members. The primary blade members are formed with sharpened edges which combined to form a sharpened distal point of the primary blade. The secondary blade is formed with sharpened edges and cooperates with the primary blade. The coupling of the primary blade and the secondary blade is such that the distal end of the secondary blade is located at a distance from the sharpened distal point of the primary blade.