Abstract: An articulated stent for delivering through a bodily conduit, for example, a peripheral or coronary artery, which has one or more curved portions and for implantation therein. The articulated stent includes at least two substantially rigid segments and a flexible connector for connecting adjacent segments. The connector assumes a cylindrical configuration when relaxed and a differentially stretched and compressed curved configuration when flexed.

Abstract: A semi-automatic cardiac tissue removal device for obtaining biopsy samples and/or creating revascularization pathways in the myocardium of the heart, mechanically cuts the pathways using a handpiece with a cutting tip assembly having a hollow needle with an angled, sharpened edge rotatable mounted around a separately advancable stylet. The stylet defines a piercer to spread the myocardium prior to insertion of the needle and to allow creation of a pathway only within the myocardium. The stylet further defines a plug at the cutting edge of the needle to finish the cutting cleanly and to plug the hollow needle thereby forming a closed chamber for excised tissue. A single button on the left or right handed handpiece actuates movement of the stylet into the myocardium, movement of the needle into the path produced by the piercer, and rotation of the needle to cut tissue.

Abstract: An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and support pads interconnected to a blade. A torsional member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor interconnected to the blades and is used to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stent for implanting in the body. The stent is formed of a tube having a patterned shape which has first and second meander patterns having axes extending in first and second directions. The first meander patterns can be formed into even and odd first meander patterns. The even and odd first meander patterns are 180.degree. out of phase with each other and the odd patterns occur between every two even patterns. The second meander patterns are intertwined with the first meander patterns. The first and second directions can be orthogonal to each other. The second meander patterns can also be formed of even and odd patterns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter comprising a tube-like basic body with a distal end and a proximal end and at least two balloon members received at the distal end at a certain distance from each other, wherein an ultrasonic probe has been received between the balloon members. The ultrasonic probe comprises a series of piezo crystals and at least one multiplexer which can activate the piezo crystals in a phased manner.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for intraoperatively performing surgery to create transmural channels in tissue, for example, as in transmyocardial revascularization, are provided using apparatus having an end region containing a mechanical cutting head and means for articulating the end-region to access hard-to-reach portions of the anatomy. The handpiece is coupled by a disposable cable to a controller that houses a vacuum pump and mechanisms for driving the cutting head. The cutting head is adapted to cooperate with the vacuum pump to evacuate tissue severed during the channel forming process.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and method for minimally invasive access to the pericardial space of a human or animal patient. The disclosed pericardial access device includes a penetrating body axially mobile within the lumen of a guide tube. The guide tube includes a deflecting mechanism for deflecting the distal end of the penetrating body. In use, a patient's pericardium is contacted with the distal end of the guide tube and suction is applied to form a pericardial bleb. The penetrating body is axially mobilized distally within the lumen of the guide tube until the deflecting mechanism deflects the penetrating body to cause the penetrating end of the penetrating body to enter the bleb of pericardial tissue at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube.

Abstract: A device and method for enabling substantially uniform and tight crimping of an intravascular stent onto a balloon catheter assembly. The device has a base portion having an intermediate portion and pivoting arm portions attached thereto. A loop portion is attached at its end portions to the pivoting handle portions. The loop portion has a compressible and generally cylindrical opening which is substantially uniformly compressible radially inwardly upon pivoting the arm portions downwardly from the intermediate portion. This substantially uniformly and tightly crimps the stent onto the catheter portion which is inserted therein.

Abstract: Intramuscular stimulation (IMS) pain relief therapy is facilitated by a hand-held tool which, once positioned against a patient's skin, can be controlled to automatically advance a needle to penetrate the patient's flesh, reciprocate the needle within the patient's flesh a predetermined number of times through a predetermined stroke, and retract the needle. A tubular guide member is provided at its distal end with a skin contact member forming a constricted orifice closely matching the diameter of the needle. The orifice allows substantially free passage of the needle therethrough and at the same time prevents bowing of the needle as it is advanced--a primary source of patient pain. Automation and control of the needle penetration, reciprocation and retraction sequence reduces the amount of manual and mental effort required on the part of the treating physician, thereby allowing physicians to perform IMS procedures more consistently, effectively and efficiently.

Abstract: An ophthalmic implant for treatment of glaucoma, a delivery device for implanting such an implant, and a method of implanting such an implant. The implant includes a tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage therebetween, and a disk connected to the tube at the outlet end of the tube. The tube passage has a cross-sectional area sufficiently small to inhibit the flow of aqueous humor through the tube passage. The implant provides a bleb of aqueous humor under the conjunctiva so that the bleb and the elasticity of the conjunctiva assist in regulating the flow of aqueous humor through the tube as a function of the IOP. The tube at its inlet end has a beveled surface facing away from the iris and one or more circumferential holes. One or more retention projections are provided for anchoring and may be extended outwardly when the implant is implanted in the eyeball. The disk has an outer rim and one or more inner uprights.

Abstract: The present invention is a medical device such as a stent in the form of an expandable mesh with an expandable polymer layer thereon. The mesh is metal or plastic. The polymer may be any of a variety of expandable polymers, which either expand upon hydration, or expand without significant resistance. The invention may be used, for example, as an expandable biliary, vascular, endotracheal, esophageal, or prostatic device.

Abstract: An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument includes a distal jaws assembly detachable from a proximal handle assembly. The proximal handle assembly includes a centrally slotted shaft and a spool having a laterally seated cross block which passes through the central slot. The distal jaws assembly includes jaws mounted on a clevis at the distal end of a coil and coupled to a pull wire which extends through the coil to its proximal end. The proximal end of the coil is provided with a connecting sleeve provided with a frustoconical portion having double-helical threads for removably coupling the coil to a shaft having a distal frustoconical portion having double-helical threads. The proximal end of the pull wire is provided with a grooved mating member and the spool is provided with a locking assembly having a springbiased push button latch for releasably engaging the grooved mating member.

Abstract: A cannula and injection site coupling system comprising a cannula or piercing member assembly having a blunt cannula partially surrounded by a protective shield. The protective shield is spaced apart from the blunt cannula and includes a bayonet arm, a bayonet barb, a bayonet lock and an opening or gap. The injection site has a septum with a opening and an arm. When the cannula assembly and injection site are coupled, the injection site arm is lodged within the cannula assembly lock opening.

Abstract: In a surgical tubular-shafted instrument comprising a tubular shaft and a gripping part connected thereto, a tool pivotable about an axis of rotation extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a push element in the shaft, the push element being movable by the gripping part in the longitudinal direction of the shaft and being in engagement with the tool by using projections and recesses arranged in spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the tool such that the tool is pivotable about its axis of rotation upon displacement of the push element, in order to make higher loading possible with small dimensions, it is proposed that a ring-shaped cage be arranged on the push element and surround the axis of rotation of the tool and the point of engagement of the projection and the recess, and the inside wall of the cage carry the projection or the recess of the push element.

Abstract: The invention provides an exemplary dermal punch and methods for its use. The dermal punch comprises a handle and a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is operably attached to the handle and the distal end is sharpened and has a generally hourglass shape.

Abstract: A surgical tool (10) for chucking in a powered surgical handpiece, comprising an outer tubular member (11) with an opening (41) at the distal portion thereof. An inner tubular member (30) is movable in the outer tubular member and comprises a bendable inner tube (36) of flexible polymer material and a tissue working tip (40) extending forward from the distal end of the inner tube. The inner tube has a radially enlarged distal opening recess (62). The tip includes a reduced outside diameter, proximally extending, annular flange fixed within the inner tube distal recess (61). The annular flange of the tip is formed with hills and valleys (63, 64). The inner wall of the inner tube that defines the recess is formed with hills (65) that seat in the valleys of the annular flange so as to lock the tip to the inner tube. The annular flange is further shaped so as to extend into the recess a distance less than the overall length of the recess.

Abstract: An instrument and method for surgical stimulation of connective tissue are disclosed. The instrument has a plurality of protuberances located on a head connected to a shaft and a handle for manipulation by a surgeon to selectively perforate diseased connective tissue to stimulate a variety of desirable biological responses resulting from bleeding from the intrinsic vasculature of the connective tissue, investing tissue, and adjoining bone.

Abstract: A surgical device in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of transducer assemblies carried by the housing and a plurality of end effectors. Each end effector is operatively coupled to one of the transducer assemblies. One method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a plurality of end effectors, each end effector being driven by a transducer assembly. The method further includes the steps of placing the end effectors in close proximity to the tissue of a patient, energizing the plurality of end effectors to vibrate at a predetermined frequency, and contacting the tissue with the end effectors.

Abstract: A vena-cava filter features an inflatable balloon at or near the distal end of an elongate flexible multiple-lumen core or stem. The balloon is suitably configured in a preferred construction at or near the distal end of an elongate flexible multiple-lumen core. The balloon is suitably configured in a preferred embodiment for femoral-vein insertional installation; and in another embodiment the balloon is suitably configured for jugular-vein insertional installation. In both embodiments, the balloon is deflated prior to insertion; it is inflated to become a filter when properly positioned in the vein, and finally it is deflated for removal purposes. Installation may proceed pursuant to guide-wire techniques commonly used for catheter installation. Each of the indicated two embodiments is described for the case of additionally providing for injection of a tracer or a thrombolytic agent at a location in the vein at proximal (i.e., upstream) offset from the region of filter action.

Abstract: A stent in a non-expanded state has a first expansion strut that includes a first expansion strut positioned adjacent to a second expansion strut. A joining strut of the first expansion strut pair couples the first and second expansion struts at a distal end of the first expansion strut pair. A plurality of the first expansion strut pair form a first expansion column. A second expansion strut pair includes a first expansion strut positioned adjacent to a second expansion strut. A joining strut of the second expansion strut pair couples the first and second expansion struts of the second expansion strut pair at a proximal end of the second expansion strut pair. A plurality of the second expansion strut pair form a second expansion column. A first connecting strut includes a first connecting strut proximal section and a first connecting strut distal section. The first connecting strut proximal section is coupled to the distal end of the first expansion strut pair in the first expansion column.