Abstract: A tip for a liquefraction surgical handpiece. The tip uses at least two channels or tubes. One tube is used for aspiration and at least one other tube is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. The distal portion of the injection tube terminates just inside of the aspiration tube and can be steered or directed so that heated fluid escaping the injection tube can be injected directly into the eye or reflected off of the internal wall of the aspiration tube prior to entering the eye. Alternatively, the injection tube may be relatively rigid but be extendable or contain a rotatable deflector that alternatively allows the heated fluid to be injected directly into the eye or reflected off of the internal wall of the aspiration tube. The handpiece may also contain other tubes, for example, for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece and tip having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to create an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The distal end of the annular gap is sealed by a nozzle at the distal ends of the first and second tube and a plurality of orifices or ports may be formed in the nozzle. As the expanding gas is propelled down the annular gap, the gas/liquid stream is forced out of the distal orifice in a controlled and directed manner.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having two coaxially mounted tubes or channels mounted to a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to create an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular gap communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular gap. The distal end of the annular gap is sealed by frictionally fitting together the distal ends of the first and second tube. One or more grooves formed in either the first or second tubes allow fluid being propelled down the annular gap to escape. A stop may be provided against which the escaping fluid impinges such as by crimping the second tube near the distal end of the second tube.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having a tube used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the tube is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second tube. The pumping chamber may use a pair of electrodes. To control the expulsion of the fluid, valves are placed on either side of the boiling chamber.

Abstract: A tip for a liquefraction surgical handpiece uses at least two tubes. One tube is used for aspiration and another, smaller tube is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. The distal portion of the injection tube terminates just inside of the aspiration tube so that heated fluid escaping the injection tube is reflected off of the internal wall of the aspiration tube prior to entering the eye. The internal wall is textured or roughened to further diffract the fluid stream. Such an arrangement prevents the injected fluid from directly entering the eye. The handpiece may also contain other tube, for example, for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. At least one lumen is used for aspiration and at least one other lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second lumen. The pumping chamber may use any type of heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater. The handpiece may also contain other lumens for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. At least one lumen is used for aspiration and at least one other lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second lumen. The pumping chamber may use any type of heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens or tubes mounted to a body. At least one tube is used for aspiration and at least one other tube is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second tube is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second tube. The pumping chamber may use a pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to great an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The electrodes are insulated from each other.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to create an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The distal end of the annular gap is sealed by sealing together the distal ends of the first and second tube and a plurality or orifices or ports may be formed near the seal. As the expanding gas is propelled down the annular gap, the gas/liquid stream is forced out of the distal orifices in a controlled and directed manner.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece tip with at least two coaxially spaced electrically conductive tubes. The tubes are separated by an electrical insulator. The interior of the inner tube is used for aspiration of liquefied tissue. The distal portion of the interior tube terminates just inside of the outer tube so as to form a boiling region. Electrical current is passed between the inner and outer tube to rapidly boil any surgical fluid in the boiling region. The boiling fluid rapidly expands out of the ring between the tubes and contacts the targeted tissue, thereby liquefying the tissue and allowing the tissue to be aspirated.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. At least one lumen is used for aspiration and at least one other lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second lumen. The pumping chamber may use any type of heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater. The handpiece may also contain other lumens for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. At least one lumen is used for aspiration and at least one other lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second lumen. The pumping chamber may use any type of heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater. The handpiece may also contain other lumens for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A tip for a liquefraction surgical handpiece. The tip uses at least two lumens. One lumen is used for aspiration and another, smaller lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. The distal portion of the injection lumen terminates just inside of the aspiration lumen so that heated fluid escaping the injection lumen is reflected off of the internal wall of the aspiration lumen prior to entering the eye. Such an arrangement prevents the injected fluid from directly entering the eye. The handpiece may also contain other lumen, for example, for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. At least one lumen is used for aspiration and at least one other lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second lumen. The pumping chamber may use a pair of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes containing a countersink.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. One lumen is used for aspiration, the second lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is surrounded by an insulated heating element that heats the surgical fluid as it passes through the second lumen. The handpiece may also contain a device for delivering the surgical fluid through the second lumen in metered pulses of a defined volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for implanting electric leads in the pericardial space of a heart. The system includes a suction cup mounted to the distal end of a guiding catheter. A vacuum pump evacuates the guiding catheter whereby the suction cup is held against the pericardium. An endoscope fitted through the guiding catheter is used to observe the surface of the pericardium. A needle selectively deployable from the end of a flexible wire guide is fitted through the guiding catheter and cuts an access hole through the pericardium into the pericardial space. The distal tip of the wire guide is deflected into a "J" shape to anchor the wire guide in the pericardial space. A dilator having a blunt, tapered end and a longitudinal bore slides over the wire guide and is advanced to the pericardial space to dilate the access hole. A flexible sheath slides over the dilator to form a channel when the dilator is withdrawn from the wire guide.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable electrical lead having relatively low electrical resistance. The lead comprises: a wire core formed in a helical coil having pre-compression, and having distal and proximal ends; a layer of an electrically conductive material formed around the wire core such that there is electrical continuity between the wire core and the metal layer; a biocompatible, electrically insulating sheath covering the wire core; a first lead connector electrically connected to the proximal end of the wire core; and an electrode electrically connected to the distal end of the wire core. The wire core may have various cross-sectional configurations which increase the current conducting area of the wire core without increasing its outside diameter. In another embodiment, the electrical lead includes a wire core having a cross-sectional area which differs over the length of the core to enhance the fatigue resistance of the electrical lead.

Abstract: An improved implantable pacer lead separates the pacing function and sensing function to the benefit of both pacing threshold and sensing effectiveness. Such separation permits the reduction of the size of the necrotic capsule that forms around the pacing electrode and also permits the use of smaller pacing electrodes which stimulate smaller regions, and therefore require less energy. The separation also permits the use of materials that concentrate the pacing energy where it is needed. The separation further works to the benefit of the sensing function because the sensing electrode may be placed exactly where it is most effective, independent of the optimal pacing electrode position. Similarly the size, shape, material and surface characteristics of the sensing electrode may be optimized irrespective of the pacing electrode.

Abstract: An anchorable guidewire for use in various medical applications, said guidewire comprising an elongate guidewire body with at least one inflatable anchoring member or balloon positioned thereon and a deactuatable check valve operative to maintain inflation of the inflatable anchoring member or balloon until such time as the check valve is volitionally deactuated by a human operator. The inflatable anchoring member or balloon is preferably sized, constructed and configured such that, when fully deflated, the anchoring member or balloon will fully collapse against the outer surface of the guidewire without substantial protrusion or extension therebeyond.