Abstract: A suspension system (22) configured to minimize transmission of acoustic and vibrational energy in a device, comprising: (i) a rigid support (24): (ii) an operative element (16) positioned within the rigid support and comprising a drive frequency when the device is in operation; and (iii) a resilient element (26) engaging the rigid support and configured to create a resilient force against vibrations generated by the operative element in one or more degrees of freedom: wherein the natural frequency of a suspension mode in one or more of the degrees of freedom are tuned into a narrow resonant frequency range by the suspension, and wherein the resonant frequency is greater than the drive frequency.

Abstract: Drivetrain assemblies for personal care devices to generate controllable power tapping motion alone or with controllable sweeping motion. The drivetrain assemblies include a drivetrain shaft at least partially contained within a body portion. The drivetrain shaft is further configured to engage a brush head member. Some drivetrain assemblies include a single actuator for generating periodic linear movement, wherein the drivetrain shaft transmits the linear movement to the brush head member via a pivoting motion and/or a translational motion. Other drivetrain assemblies include the actuator for generating periodic linear movement and a motor on the drivetrain shaft to periodically rotate the shaft about a central axis.

Abstract: A personal care device including a body portion; a cleaning unit having a set of cleaning elements, the set of cleaning elements extending in an axis of alignment; a controller and an actuator assembly arranged to be driven by the controller. The actuator assembly includes an actuator configured to generate first and second periodic movements, wherein the first and second periodic movements operate at different frequencies or out-of-phase with each other. The first periodic movement causes the cleaning elements to move in a first direction about a central axis of the personal care device or along a line that is tangential to a platen of the cleaning unit. The second periodic movement causes the cleaning elements to move in a second direction that is different than the first direction, wherein the second direction is normal to the platen of the cleaning unit.

Abstract: A power toothbrush device (100) including a brush head member (104) having a set of bristles (116); a body portion (102) coupled with the brush head member; and a drivetrain assembly (122). The drivetrain assembly includes an actuator (840) configured to generate periodic linear movement and a drivetrain shaft (124, 824) configured to transmit the generated periodic linear movement to the brush head member. The set of bristles are configured to be driven in a first direction (TM) at an amplitude equal to or greater than 0.25 mm and less than 3 mm and a frequency equal to or greater than 0.25 Hz and less than 520 Hz in the first direction. The drivetrain shaft is further configured to periodically rotate the set of bristles in a second direction (SM) about a central axis of the power toothbrush device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for occluding hollow body structures, such as blood vessels, and for attaching tissue layers and/or non-tissue layers together by providing implantable elements on opposite sides of the structure or layers and drawing the implants together to occlude the body structure and/or bring the layers together. The implants are deliverable in a low-profile configuration and self-expand to an enlarged configuration. The implantable elements are delivered by transfixing the body structure, then releasing the implants on opposite sides of the body structure and drawing the implants together to effect an occlusion or attachment. The implants are configured to apply oppositely directed forces to opposite surfaces of the tissue layers at alternate, circumferentially spaced locations and may constrain the tissue in a serpentine pattern or in a direct clamping pattern.

Abstract: Methods and devices for temporarily occluding blood vessels are provided for use in emergency conditions to control trauma-induced hemorrhaging.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for occluding hollow body structures, such as blood vessels, and for attaching tissue layers together by providing implantable elements on opposite sides of the structure or tissue layers and drawing the implants together to occlude the body structure and/or bring the tissue layers together. The implants are deliverable in a low-profile configuration and self-expand to an enlarged configuration. The implantable elements are delivered by transfixing the body structure, then releasing the implants on opposite sides of the anatomical structure to urge the layers together to effect an occlusion or attachment. The implants are configured to apply oppositely directed forces to opposite surfaces of the tissue layers at alternate, circumferentially spaced locations and may constrain the tissue in a serpentine pattern or in a direct clamping pattern. The implants grip the tissue in a manner that defines a pressure zone about the transfixion aperture that prevents leakage from the aperture.

Abstract: Methods and devices for temporarily occluding blood vessels are provided for use in emergency conditions to control trauma-induced hemorrhaging. An occlusion device is delivered and deployed through a rapidly introduced, percutaneously placed needle that carries an occlusion device in readiness to be deployed out of the needle. The deployed occlusion device applies pressure to the target blood vessel to control blood loss.

Abstract: A directed jet mouthpiece (10) comprises at least one mouthpiece trough (12, 14) configured to fit over a front portion of a dental arch of a user's teeth. The at least one mouthpiece trough includes a buccal-side vertical member (16), a lingual-side vertical member (18) and an occlusal-side horizontal member (20) extending in between. The at least one mouthpiece trough further includes at least one fluidics inlet (22), a plurality of jet orifices (24) on both buccal- and lingual-side vertical members, and at least one fluidics path (26) disposed between the fluidics inlet and jet orifices. A plurality of directed jet orifices (28) is disposed in end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough. The at least one fluidics path (26) is further disposed between the fluidics inlet and plurality of directed jet orifices. The plurality of directed jet orifices (28) direct fluid jets rearward towards a remainder of teeth in a user's mouth beyond the end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough.

Abstract: One-piece tissue fasteners are provided for securing two or more tissue layers to each other. Delivery devices are described by which a tandem array of such fasteners can be delivered and deployed to secure tissue layers in a number of locations without requiring removal or reloading of the removal tool.

Abstract: A light guide member (100, 200, 300, 400) for a power device (10) includes a ring-shaped body (34) adapted to be disposed within a housing (22) of the power device (10). The ring-shaped body (34) has an outer surface (63) that is contoured to complement an inner surface (50) of the housing (22), and includes a light receiving surface (44, 46) and a light emitting surface (48). The ring-shaped body (34) further includes a light coupling portion (42) adapted to accommodate a light source (30, 32) and configured to direct light emitted by the light source (30, 32) to the light receiving surface (44, 46). Light received by the light receiving surface (44, 46) propagates through the ring-shaped body (34) via internal reflection to the light emitting surface (48) where the light is directed out of the light guide member and uniformly illuminates a portion (53) of an outer surface (52) of the housing (22) of the power device (10).

Abstract: The present invention provides temporary occlusion devices and techniques that can be deployed percutaneously to temporarily occlude blood vessels including major blood vessels (e.g., arteries) as well as arteries within organs until specialized care can be obtained to surgically control massive hemorrhage following civilian or military trauma. The temporary occluders of the present invention may be used as an internal tourniquet focused on a specific target region or vessel as an alternative to a conventional tourniquet to control major extremity bleeding following trauma. The temporary occluders of the invention provide a more effective, reliable and highly targeted method to control major blood vessel hemorrhage. Furthermore, unlike a conventional tourniquet, the temporary occluder of the present invention may be used even in the presence of soft tissue injury.

Abstract: An actuator (12) for a personal care appliance (10) having an eccentric core (21) to preload the actuator (12) to prevent rattling caused by detrimental reactionary forces. The eccentric core (21) includes a pole assembly (24) radially extending from a spindle 22 having at least a first set (25-1) and a second set (25-2) of pole members. The first set (25-1) has a greater length as measured from the center of the spindle 22 than the second set (24-2), reducing the magnet gap on one side of the spindle (22) to create an eccentric core and preload the actuator (12). Alternatively, the preload can be mechanically created by a set of bearings (28) disposed within housing (18) of the actuator 12, where the bearings (28) have a centerline (A3) offset from the principal axis (A1) of the housing (18).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for delivering multiple tissue fasteners with needle and fastener assemblies each of which comprises a hollow needle adapted to be passed through tissue layers to be fastened, the needle containing a proximal and a distal implant, the implants being configured to self-expand when ejected from the needle, the implants being lockable to each other after ejection in response to drawing the implants together with tissue gripped between the implants.

Abstract: A suspension system (22) configured to minimize transmission of acoustic and vibrational energy in a device, comprising: (i) a rigid support (24); (ii) an operative element (16) positioned within the rigid support and comprising a drive frequency when the device is in operation; and (iii) a resilient element (26) engaging the rigid support and configured to create a resilient force against one or more degrees of freedom of vibrations generated by the operative element; wherein the natural frequency in one or more of the degrees of freedom of the suspension system, in the degrees of freedom of interest, are tuned into a narrow resonant frequency range by the suspension, and wherein the resonant frequency is less than the drive frequency.

Abstract: A suspension system (22) configured to minimize transmission of acoustic and vibrational energy in a device, comprising: (i) a rigid support (24); (ii) an operative element (16) positioned within the rigid support and comprising a drive frequency when the device is in operation; and (iii) a resilient element (26) engaging the rigid support and configured to create a resilient force against vibrations generated by the operative element in one or more degrees of freedom; wherein the natural frequency of a suspension mode in one or more of the degrees of freedom are tuned into a narrow resonant frequency range by the suspension, and wherein the resonant frequency is greater than the drive frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for occluding blood vessels and other anatomical structures. Occlusion devices are delivered percutaneously and extraluminally through a small gauge needle and include expandable elements that are deployable on opposite sides of a target vessel to be occluded. When positioned about the vessel the elements are expanded and brought together to compress and occlude the vessel. Embodiments include those adapted for temporary as well as permanent use.

Abstract: A directed jet mouthpiece (10) comprises at least one mouthpiece trough (12, 14) configured to fit over a front portion of a dental arch of a user's teeth. The at least one mouthpiece trough includes a buccal-side vertical member (16), a lingual-side vertical member (18) and an occlusal-side horizontal member (20) extending in between. The at least one mouthpiece trough further includes at least one fluidics inlet (22), a plurality of jet orifices (24) on both buccal- and lingual-side vertical members, and at least one fluidics path (26) disposed between the fluidics inlet and jet orifices. A plurality of directed jet orifices (28) is disposed in end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough. The at least one fluidics path (26) is further disposed between the fluidics inlet and plurality of directed jet orifices. The plurality of directed jet orifices (28) direct fluid jets rearward towards a remainder of teeth in a user's mouth beyond the end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough.

Abstract: Catheter-based devices and methods for endoluminally accessing and occluding hollow anatomical structures are disclosed. Occlusion clips are contained in one or more needles that pierce opposing walls of the anatomical structure to deploy the clips externally of the structure. The clips then are drawn together to press the opposing anatomical walls together.

Abstract: A directed jet mouthpiece (10) comprises at least one mouthpiece trough (12,14) configured to fit over a front portion of a dental arch of a user's teeth. The at least one mouthpiece trough includes a buccal-side vertical member (16), a lingual-side vertical member (18) and an occlusal-side horizontal member (20) extending in between. The at least one mouthpiece trough further includes at least one fluidics inlet (22), a plurality of jet orifices (24) on both buccal- and lingual-side vertical members, and at least one fluidics path (26) disposed between the fluidics inlet and jet orifices. A plurality of directed jet orifices (28) is disposed in end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough. The at least one fluidics path (26) is further disposed between the fluidics inlet and plurality of directed jet orifices. The plurality of directed jet orifices (28) direct fluid jets rearward towards a remainder of teeth in a user's mouth beyond the end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough.