Abstract: A clutch for a piercing earring having a piercing pin comprising a head portion having an internal end wall; a piercing pin positioning structure within the head portion for receiving and positioning a piercing pin having a piercing end point within the head portion; the piercing pin being stopped from further travel when the piercing end point contacts the internal end wall; and the head portion preventing the piercing pin from contacting a user when received within the head portion.

Abstract: A curved guide or fixation pin is provided for use in the fixation of fractured bones. In one embodiment, a pin guide device is used to locate the pin at the desired entry point on the bone and the pin is tapped or hammered into place. With the guide device removed, the pin is driven further into the bone and a flexible reamer device, which is placed over the pin and which uses the pin as guide, is used to ream out the path defined by pin so as to prepare the bone for a intermedullary rod. The curvature of the pin assists in ensuring that the path of the pin connects to the medullary canal. In another embodiment, the curved pin has an enlarged proximal head and a two piece pin guide device is used which is disassembled after the pin initially penetrates the bone so as to permit the pin to be driven home. A self-retaining protective retractor device provides soft tissue protection during the reaming operation and eliminates the need for medical personnel to hold the retractor device.

Abstract: A filter system and methods for removing blood clots and/or emboli by collecting them in a filtering element and thermally treating same by delivering therapeutic energy through a bipolar electrode members to the collected blood clots and emboli. Other alternate energy may also be applied to the collected blood clots and emboli for treating them in situ.

Abstract: A pacifier securing system for securing positioning of a pacifier in an infant's mouth. The pacifier securing system includes a pacifier having an outwardly extending guard plate, apertures in opposite sides of the guard plate, and adjustable straps employing hook and loop fasteners to form loops for engaging the straps between the apertures in the guard plate and an infant's ears. The adjustable straps are further designed to permit attachment of the straps to each other around the infant's neck to secure the pacifier in the mouth of the infant.

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: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is disclosed having a handle assembly and an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly. A jaw assembly is mounted at a distal end portion of the elongated body portion and includes first and second jaws movable between an open position and a closed position. An actuator is disclosed which is slidable within the elongated body portion in response to actuation of the handle assembly. The actuator has camming structure at a distal portion thereof for moving the first and second jaws between the open position and the closed position. A loading unit is releasably mounted to the elongated body portion and stores a plurality of surgical clips therein. The loading unit includes a clip advancer having a portion engageable with the actuator and movable therewith for advancing a distalmost surgical clip and a ratchet assembly associated with the clip advancer to index progressive movement thereof.

Abstract: An ear piercing template apparatus provides a body defining at least one aperture therethrough. The body is adapted to be positioned against an ear to be pierced and allow the piercing stud to pass through the aligned aperture while the ear piercing device abuts the body. The body, which is substantially rigid, maintains the relative angle between the ear and the ear piercing device and ensures that the resulting hole is aligned properly. The ear piercing template apparatus is then used to align the pierced hole on the opposite ear. To facilitate this alignment, the body is transparent and includes indicia thereon, such as aperture labels, angle markings, and measurement markings. A support member holds the body on the ear making use of the ear piercing template apparatus easier and increasing repeatability. A system provides a plurality of the ear piercing template apparatuses, each having a different size.

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 coupling structure releasably attaches a plurality of transmission members to each other. Non-vibratory structures hold a second end of the first transmission member in contact with a first end of the second member. A method including the steps of providing a first non-vibratory structure carrying the first transmission member, and providing a second non-vibratory structure carrying the second transmission member. The method also includes the steps of attaching the first non-vibratory structure to the second non-vibratory structure to hold a coupling end of the first transmission rod in contact with a coupling end of the second transmission rod without the use of a threaded connection between the first and second components.

Abstract: An improved positioning assembly for positioning and holding a cornea of an eye during surgery includes a positioning segment, a suction force operably coupled to the positioning segment to temporarily attach it to the eye, and a suction enhancement member. The positioning segment includes a retention plate, having an aperture defined therein to receive the cornea of the eye for engagement with 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 segment further includes a vacuum port in fluid flow communication with a point radially exterior of the aperture such that a suction force applied therethrough secures the positioning segment to the eye with the cornea protruding through the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a non-circular opening in tissue includes an elongate body having a first tissue engaging edge associated with a distal end portion thereof, a punch head disposed adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate body, and defining a second tissue engaging edge associated therewith. The first and second tissue engaging edges each define a general racetrack configuration characterized by first and second opposed straight edge portions interconnected by generally arcuate edge portions. At least one of the first and second tissue engaging edges is adapted to cut tissue. The elongate body and the punch head are adapted for relative movement such that the first and second tissue engaging edges cooperate to cut tissue disposed therebetween to thereby form a general racetrack-shaped opening in tissue.

Abstract: In a surgical instrument for forming a flared region of a hole, a tool radially extends in response to the instrument engaging a surface of a hole in a substrate. The instrument can include a passage sized to receive a guide wire.

Abstract: Mechanical retractors for bluntly dissecting tissue at a remote surgical site include extendable element disposed near the distal end of an elongated cannula body with direct mechanical linkage to manual actuators disposed near the proximal end of the cannula body. Individual extendable elements may be arranged in symmetrical or asymmetrical configurations about the central axis of the body for selectively bluntly dissecting bodily tissue in patterns of greater diversity than merely omni-radially as provided by conventional pressurizable balloon tip cannulas.

Abstract: An articular cartilage harvesting knife is disclosed which includes a rod having an elongated slot adjacent a distal end of the rod, the slot having a major axis lying substantially along the rod's longitudinal axis. An opening is provided in a sidewall of the rod which communicates with the slot. The proximal end of the opening defines a rearwardly extending inclined plane within the rod and an edge on the outer surface of the sidewall which, when sharpened, defines a cutting edge. When cutting edge is advanced under pressure along cartilage, the cartilage is stripped and moves into the slot and opening. In one embodiment of the invention the rod is hollowed so that stripped cartilage can be drawn from the slot and opening by suction.

Abstract: A guided protector for a stent delivery assembly including an arbor disposed generally in the center of a sleeve. The distal end of the arbor is joined to the sleeve using a variety of joining methods including a friction fit and plastic welding. In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the sleeve is larger than the outside diameter of the stent which is being protected.

Abstract: A miniaturized brush particularly adapted for medical use formed at the distal end of an elongated brush drive shaft having a hollow lumen formed therein for introduction over a guidewire. The brush drive shaft is enclosed in the lumen of a brush delivery catheter and other components of a brush sub-assembly adapted to deliver infusate through the catheter lumen and to be coupled to a drive motor unit for rotating the brush drive shaft and brush. The brush bristles of the distal brush are adapted to be garaged in a distal end section of the brush delivery catheter lumen during introduction through a body lumen. The brush bristles are formed of a thin sheet of rigid plastic material that is shaped to have a plurality of fringe elements extending in parallel from a mounting web. The mounting web is wound about and attached to a distal end section of the drive shaft outer circumference so that the fringe elements extend outward from the drive shaft surface and obliquely of the drive shaft axis.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a reshaping of a cornea of an eye for improved vision is presented. The system comprises a first appartus for determining dark adapted pupil size of an eye and a second apparatus for reshaping a cornea of the eye in an area approximately equal to the dark adapted pupil size as determined by the first apparatus. The method of the present invention involves dilating the pupil of an eye to its dark adapted size, determining the diameter of the dilated pupil, and ablating the cornea of the eye to match the dilated pupil size. The advantage to using such a system and method when reshaping a cornea of an eye is reduced halo effect or improved night vision.

Abstract: A catheter is provided for use in blood vessels and other body canals having one or more expandable segments. Each expandable segment includes a plurality of longitudinally extending bands, each band having a plurality of buckle points so that, as compressive axial forces are applied, the bands bend at the buckle points in a predetermined manner to expand outwardly. Fluid passageways are provided to apply the necessary axial compressive forces. A flexible resilient membrane encloses the expandable section and retracts the section so that the catheter may be withdrawn. The catheter is usable with or without stents. Multiple expandable segments may be utilized on the catheter for multi-tasking such as pre-expanding an artery and inserting one or two stents in the pre-expanded artery in a single procedure without withdrawing the catheter.

Abstract: This invention is an instrument for seizing walls of a body cavity including a first portion (22) and a second portion (30), the second portion being insertable into the cavity and being reversibly deformable from a first (FIG. 5A) to a second (FIG. 5B) configuration while inside the cavity, the first portion being operative to reversibly deform the second portion from the first to the second configuration, the second portion when in the second configuration being operative to seize the walls of the cavity.

Abstract: An ultrasonic dissection and coagulation system for surgical use is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic instrument, a control module, and a remote actuator. The ultrasonic instrument has a housing and an elongated body portion extending from the housing. An ultrasonic transducer supported within the housing is operatively connected to a cutting jaw by a vibration coupler. The vibration coupler conducts high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic transducer to the cutting jaw. The cutting jaw has a blade surface which is curved downwardly and outwardly in the distal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion along its length such that an angle defined by a line drawn tangent to the blade surface and the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion varies between 5 degrees and 75 degrees.