Abstract: Described are methods of performing a surgical tonsillectomy, medical devices for treating a void created by removing tonsil tissue from a patient, surgical kits, and use of an extracellular matrix material in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a surgical wound resulting from removal of tonsil tissue from a patient. Also described is a device for wound closure, and methods of making and using thereof.

Abstract: A filter device has a single hub and a plurality of filter struts extending in a first longitudinal direction. A plurality of wire loops extend in a second longitudinal direction opposite the filter struts. The filter struts and wire loops each engage the vessel wall of a body lumen when deployed. The wire loops limit the filter device from becoming tilted and embedded in the vessel wall. A retrieval device includes a sheath and a snaring mechanism. The snaring mechanism engages a hook member of the filter and the sheath envelopes the wire loops and filter struts. The sheath will cause the wire loops to bend and fold over the filter struts during retrieval such that the wire loops and filter struts extend in the same longitudinal direction after being enveloped by the sheath.

Abstract: A retrieval system for a medical device includes an access sheath, a clot catch with an attached mesh, and a filter catch having an attached retrieval member. The filter catch is translatable within clot catch, and the clot catch is translatable within the access sheath. The mesh is expandable into engagement with a body vessel during retrieval of the medical device. The mesh captures emboli that are dislodged during retrieval of the device. The device is captured by the clot catch during retrieval, and the clot catch is subsequently captured by the access sheath. The system can further include an inner sheath translatable within the clot catch, with the inner sheath capturing the medical device and the clot catch capturing the inner sheath.

Abstract: Exemplary pressurization and coating systems, methods, and apparatuses are described herein. In certain embodiments, pressurization systems, methods, and apparatuses are used in conjunction with coating systems, methods, and apparatuses to control pressure about a substrate after a coating material is applied to a surface of the substrate. An exemplary system includes a die tool configured to apply a coating material to a substrate passing through the die tool and a pressurization apparatus attached to the die tool and forming a pressurization chamber. The pressurization apparatus is configured to receive the substrate from the die tool and control pressure about the substrate in the pressurization chamber. In certain embodiments, the die tool forms a coating chamber and is configure,d to apply the coating material on at least one surface of the substrate in the coating chamber.

Abstract: Described are methods of performing a surgical tonsillectomy, medical devices for treating a void created by removing tonsil tissue from a patient, surgical kits, and use of an extracellular matrix material in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a surgical wound resulting from removal of tonsil tissue from a patient. Also described is a device for wound closure, and methods of making and using thereof.

Abstract: A retrieval system for a medical device includes an access sheath, a clot catch with an attached mesh, and a filter catch having an attached retrieval member. The filter catch is translatable within clot catch, and the clot catch is translatable within the access sheath. The mesh is expandable into engagement with a body vessel during retrieval of the medical device. The mesh captures emboli that are dislodged during retrieval of the device. The device is captured by the clot catch during retrieval, and the clot catch is subsequently captured by the access sheath. The system can further include an inner sheath translatable within the clot catch, with the inner sheath capturing the medical device and the clot catch capturing the inner sheath.

Abstract: A filter device has a single hub and a plurality of filter struts extending in a first longitudinal direction. A plurality of wire loops extend in a second longitudinal direction opposite the filter struts. The filter struts and wire loops each engage the vessel wall of a body lumen when deployed. The wire loops limit the filter device from becoming tilted and embedded in the vessel wall. A retrieval device includes a sheath and a snaring mechanism. The snaring mechanism engages a hook member of the filter and the sheath envelopes the wire loops and filter struts. The sheath will cause the wire loops to bend and fold over the filter struts during retrieval such that the wire loops and filter struts extend in the same longitudinal direction after being enveloped by the sheath.

Abstract: The present invention relates to implantable medical devices that include at least one suture attached to a device component, the suture including a naturally derived collagenous material. The present invention is also directed to sutures per se including filaments incorporating naturally derived collagenous material. The naturally derived collagenous material may be an extracellular matrix (ECM) material.

Abstract: A coupling wire guide and an improved method for bonding a mandrel to a tracking tip in a reliable and long-lasting manner are provided. The coupling wire guide includes a mandrel connected to a tracking tip. The mandrel includes a distal portion, including first and second portions integral to the mandrel, the second portion being wider than the first portion. The tracking tip includes a first tubular section and a second tubular section adapted to receive a previously introduced wire guide therein. The first tubular section is disposed over and bonded to the first and second portions to form the coupling wire guide. A coil may be attached to the distal portion upstream of the second portion. In a preferred embodiment, the second portion is a spherical structure adhesively bonded to the first tubular section. Use of a medical grade adhesive in conjunction with the second portion has been surprisingly found to increase tensile joint strength and decrease tensile joint strength variability.

Abstract: A window covering component comprising a substrate having a modulus of elasticity and a stiffener having a higher modulus of elasticity than the substrate and positioned substantially away from the plane in which the substrate would otherwise tend to deform.

Abstract: A hollow, rigid window covering component for use as a slat or otherwise, generally used as an alternative to wood, the component being filled with a foam using a substantially continuous manufacturing process. The apparatus used for this process comprises a die having a substantially toroid-shaped resin chamber and a channel or void through which to inject a core material into the enclosed perimeter of the hollow window covering component.

Abstract: A water resistant and fire retardant container for releasably encapsulating an electrical connection includes a housing having an opening and a receiving chamber for receiving a wire nut having an electrical connection therein between contacting ends of electrical wires. The receiving chamber is pre-filled with water resistant sealing gel. An end cap is removably interlocked with a circular lip of the housing at the opening and includes a plurality of flexible segments extending from a perimeter opening within the end cap radially inward. The flexible segments are positioned common to a single plane and converge toward a common point to form a flexible, segmented cover over the housing opening. A locking ring is disposed within the receiving chamber below the end cap for allowing one-way passage of the wire nut therethrough.

Abstract: A self draining valve member for use with a water line of an underground water distribution system. The valve member comprises a cylindrical housing having screw threads formed on at least a portion of the outer surface thereof, with the screw threads being adapted to engage a threaded fitting on the water line. The housing has an inner chamber comprising first and second bores extending axially inward from the opposite ends of the housing. The chamber has a transverse wall which divides the chamber into two sub-chambers. A drain bore extends through the transverse wall to extablish flow communication between the two sub-chambers. Respective valve heads are positioned in the sub-chambers, with a valve stem extending through the drain bore and connecting the valve heads. A flange projects circumferentially from one end of the housing, and a hollow cylindrical hood extends from the flange away from the housing.