Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for endoscopically cannulating the aorta, right atrium, and other body tissues to establish cardiopulmonary bypass for minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, and for other surgeries. After inserting the suction support through a minimal access port, the suction support having an arcuate member with suction ports provides countertraction to the aorta by creating a vacuum seal between its suction ports and the aorta, therefore facilitating aortic incision and cannulation. In one embodiment, the suction support allows aorta stabilization, incision, and insertion with an introducer to be achieved sequentially. Methods for using the devices herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: An access port comprises a base and a flexible conduit. The port is subcutaneously implanted and the conduit is attached directly or indirectly to a blood vessel or other body lumen or cavity. An actuator mechanism is provided with a linkage which opens a valve in the port in response to percutaneous insertion of a needle into the access port. In particular, insertion of the needle opens the clamping mechanism to permit flow through the conduit between the blood vessel and the needle.

Abstract: An iontophoretic drug delivery system of the present invention includes a controller interconnectable with a drug-filled patch. The controller includes electronic circuitry which monitors and controls the supply of electrical current to the drug-filled patch during delivery of at least one drug, and the electronic circuitry includes a circuit for causing a voltage step in a battery of a plurality of serially-connected cells. Specifically, the circuit causes one or more of the cells to discharge through a resistor at a higher rate than the other cells, thus producing a voltage step when the faster discharging cell dies before the other cells. A reverse-biased diode is connected in parallel to the faster discharging cell to cause the current to bypass the faster discharging cell after it has died, thus preventing it from reverse charging. This circuitry may be controlled to adjust the higher rate of discharge, and thus the time of occurrence of the voltage step.

Abstract: To reduce damage to surrounding tissue while fragmenting some tissue such as for example not damaging the capsular wall while removing the lens during cataract removal surgery or not damaging artery or vein walls during bypass surgery while freeing the artery or vein to be transplanted, an incision is made for the insertion of surface--a handpiece tip. The tip is rotated and reciprocated ultrasonically at the same time so that tissue is fragmented by the combined motion of a fragmenting surface perpendicular to the surface and at an angle to the surface many times during a single revolution or part of a revolution.

Abstract: Methods for conducting operation of an electrode arrangement are described. The methods generally concern use of an electrode reservoir containing both a first electrode and a secondary electrode. A system for practicing the methods is also provided.

Abstract: A breast pump that gently milks a lactating mother's breast is comprised of a housing having a flexible sleeve that receives the breast. A rotating wheel and connection rod combine to reciprocate the sleeve back and fourth relative to an opening on the housing while a cam operates to squeeze and unsqueeze the sleeve. A motor operatively connects to the cam and to the wheel. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the initial parameters of the sleeve in order to accommodate various sized breasts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a subcutaneous needle in which a needle body and an adhesive tape are reliably secured together with a resin material enabling the operation to be correctly executed, and a method of producing the same. The subcutaneous needle is constituted by an adhesive tape, a separate paper, a needle body and a resin material. The adhesive tape has a hole formed in the central portion and has an adhesive surface on one side thereof. The separate paper has a hole in the central portion and is stuck on the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape. The needle body is bent in an L-shape and its top end side protrudes penetrating through the holes of the adhesive tape and of the separate paper. The base end side of the needle body is arranged nearly in parallel with a nonadhesive surface of the adhesive tape. The resin material is injection-molded onto the nonadhesive surface of the adhesive tape so as to cover and secure the base end side of the needle body.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector includes: an air detection system for detecting air in the neck of the syringe; a hand-operated control lever for controlling movement of the injector ram; magnetic conductors for delivering magnetic fields from a power head face plate to an internal circuit board to permit detection of different face plates; a tilt sensor detecting the tilt angle of the power head to control the speed of motion brought about by the hand-operated control lever and to control an invertible display; and a monitor microcontroller for monitoring the behavior of the central processing unit to detect and react to error conditions.

Abstract: A piston rod for use in an injection device for an injection cartridge is provided with a single or multiple thread along a predetermined portion of its length, after which the thread changes into a longitudinal groove for each thread, such that a turning movement of the piston rod will turn into an axial movement after the predetermined length. The thread is shaped as one or more helicoidal grooves in the surface of the piston rod, the grooves turning into the longitudinal grooves after the predetermined length. A nut element cooperates with the thread and includes at least one radial inwardly directed projection for each thread, the projection or projections guiding the piston rod by the groove or grooves forming the thread.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece driver having a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of a fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling a piston down the length of the pumping chamber. The piston may be attached to the operative shaft or rod of a surgical probe and produce reciprocal motion. Alternatively, the piston may be attached to a cam or gear to product rotary motion.

Abstract: A surface access double hemostatic valve comprises a first hemostatic valve mounted in the wall of a hemodialysis graft, a chamber extending from the first hemostatic valve, and a second hemostatic valve mounted at the distal end of the chamber for positioning at the surface of the skin of the patient. The graft having the surface access double hemostatic valve mounted thereon is surgically installed in the skin of the patient. Thereafter the interior of the chamber is sterilized and a blood access member is inserted through the second hemostatic valve, through the chamber, through the second hemostatic valve, and into the interior of the graft for access to blood flowing therethrough to effect hemodialysis.

Abstract: A lockable safety shield assembly for a prefillable syringe is provided. The design of the lockable safety shield assembly enhances pharmaceutical manufacturers' ease of assembling the various components as part of its filling or processing of the prefillable syringes in normal practice, while at the same time minimizes difficulties in mating parts made from different materials. A tube is placed around the outside surface of the syringe barrel and affixed thereto. A collar is provided on the tube adjacent the distal end of the syringe barrel. A safety shield is axially slidable over the tube between a retracted position, wherein the distal end of the piercing element associated with the prefillable syringe is exposed, and an extended position, wherein the safety shield is locked to the collar to protectively cover the distal end of the piercing element. The safety shield includes locking structure configured so that the shield can be easily fitted over the tube.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device. In particular, this invention is directed to a multilumen catheter for accessing the vascular system of a body. The multilumen catheter includes a catheter shaft, at least a portion or which includes at least one lumen reinforced with a support member which may include a polymeric or metallic braid, coil or knit material. The reinforced lumen may further include a thin-walled liner or coating of lubricious material. The reinforced lumen may have a circular cross-section adapted to receive a guidewire. The interior surface of the reinforced lumen may have a smooth and continuous surface or a non-uniform surface.

Abstract: A drainage catheter for selective positioning within the human vasculature which includes a catheter body defining separate pressure and discharge lumens. A connector means at a proximal end of the catheter connects the pressure channel to a source of liquid under pressure. An inlet opening is positioned in the side of the catheter adjacent the distal end thereof and communicates with the discharge channel. The pressure channel extends from the proximal end distally forward of the inlet opening and then curves rearwardly to join the discharge channel at said inlet opening. The pressure channel is shaped to form a spray nozzle to direct pressurized fluid in the pressure channel across said inlet opening and into the discharge channel to create a suction adjacent the inlet opening. A preformed distal tip portion extends from the distal end of the drainage catheter.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter (1) of a type comprising two inner lumens (2, 3) defined by a wall (2A, 3A) for guiding a fluid (4), and two opposite ends (5, 6), namely a distal end (5) and a proximal end (6), characterized in that the distal end is formed of two elongated and discrete end portions (13, 14) located beyond a so-called dividing point (12) at a predetermined distance D1 from the proximal end (6), wherein said end portions, in a rest position of the catheter, extend parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, each over a predetermined length (L1, L2) measurable between a free end (13A, 14A) and the dividing point (12), are each made of a flexible material, contain a segment of at least one lumen (2, 3) and have at least one channel (7, 8) for delivering and/or sampling the fluid.

Abstract: A preferred thermal pharmaceutical delivery apparatus (10) includes a drug delivery unit (12) including a drug absorbent gel body (16) capable of desorbing a drug upon being heated, a heating element(18) positioned within the gel body (16), and a power receiving antenna (20) coupled with the heating element (18). The drug delivery unit (12) can be implanted subcutaneously in vivo. The apparatus (10) further includes a power unit (14) having a controller (26) coupled with a sending antenna (28) configured for inductively coupling transdermally with the receiving antenna (20) for delivering electrical power thereto in order to heat the element (18) and release the drug from the gel body (16).

Abstract: A sharps protection system for a blood collection set, needle, syringes, other hollow needle invasive instruments and other sharp instruments such as scalpels. This system includes a sharp pointed needle having a tip at a first end and a handle coupled to the needle proximate to the end of the needle opposite to the tip. A protection mechanism is coupled to the handle and the needle for selectively protecting the tip of the needle from undesired physical contact. The protection mechanism is moveable from a first, inactive state to a second, protective state in which at least the tip of the needle is covered by the protection mechanism and protected against inadvertent contact. The sharps protection system is particularly suitable in connection with a butterfly type IV blood collection set.

Abstract: A surgical trocar has a cannula assembly including a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough. A housing having an opening is located at the proximal end of the sleeve and is aligned with the passageway of the sleeve. The trocar also includes an obturator assembly which is insertable in the cannula assembly. The obturator assembly includes a handle having an opening therein and a flexible contact portion which is outwardly deflectable from the handle. The obturator assembly also includes an obturator having a proximal end connected to the handle and a distal end opposite the proximal end. A penetrating tip is located at the shaft distal end for penetrating tissue. A protector having a distal end is slidably disposed around the obturator shaft for covering the penetrating tip. The protector has an aperture at its distal end for permitting the penetrating tip to pass therethrough.

Abstract: Localized, transient pressure waves are applied to tissue adjacent to target cells by means of a light source and a coupling interface placed in contact with the tissue that converts light from the light source into acoustic energy. The pressure waves cause transient poration of the cell membranes. The therapeutic agents are delivered to the site of the localized pressure waves by any suitable means, such as by injection with a needle. The light source and coupling interface can be incorporated into a catheter for application of the pressure waves to diseased blood vessels. A manually manipulable surgical device incorporating a needle for injecting the agent, light source, and coupling interface is also described.

Abstract: In preferred aspects the invention provides an in-line humidifier, a system using such a humidifier and methods related thereto, a method for infusing a gas into an eye during retinal detachment surgical procedure and a method for treating a retinal tear. The method for infusing gas includes providing an in-line humidifier, humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier by flowing the gas there through and infusing the humidified gas into the eye. The in-line humidifier includes a housing and a humidifier section disposed within the housing, the humidifier section including a hydroscopic material that releasably retains liquid therein. The housing includes an inlet and outlet connection in fluid communication with the housing interior.