Abstract: A snare for capturing and removing emboli from vascular vessels is disclosed. The snare is formed from a flexible, resilient sheet attached to an elongated flexible tube and rod assembly. The rod fits within a bore of the tube and the tube and rod are movable relatively to one another. The sheet forms a generally conical basket, one part of which is attached to the tube, the other part being attached to the rod. Relative motion between the tube and the rod causes the basket to deform between a contracted state, wherein it may pass through the vascular vessel, to an expanded state, wherein it may receive and capture an embolus for removal from the vessel.

Abstract: A sling for controlling urinary incontinence is disclosed. The sling is formed from a tube having substantially lengthwise inextensible end portions and an elastically lengthwise extensible intermediate portion between the end portions. The intermediate portion has a U-shape which cradles the urethra. The end portions extend through the abdominal tissue to anchor the intermediate portion in position. The sling places the urethra under a transverse compressive load to hold it closed and prevent inadvertent urination. The tube is formed from interlaced filamentary members. Interlacing may be by warp knitting, weaving using a leno weave or braiding using a tri-axial braid structure. The end portions have a rough texture to facilitate anchoring in the tissue of the abdominal wall. The intermediate portion is smooth and soft to prevent tissue erosion.

Abstract: An access port for use in laparoscopic surgery is disclosed. The port includes a duct having a one-way valve and a tubular seal. The one-way valve has opposed surfaces that co-apt in response to internal pressure within the duct. The tubular seal has an inner layer with a low friction coefficient surrounded by an outer elastic layer that biases the inner layer into sealing engagement with a surgical tool inserted through the duct. The one-way valve seals the duct in the absence of a tool extending through the duct. The low friction coefficient of the inner layer facilitates insertion and removal of the tool through the duct. The port has a distal end insertable into a pressurized cavity, and a proximal end that extends from the cavity and provides access thereto.

Abstract: A coil for the treatment of vascular aneurysms is disclosed. The coil is formed from filamentary members interlaced to form a three-dimensional substrate. The substrate is deformable between a collapsed state wherein it fits within a catheter, and an expanded state, which it assumes once deployed from the catheter into the vascular aneurysm. The three-dimensional shapes of the substrate include flat sheets biased into a helix or a tubular forms biased into figure eight loops, helical loops or a sinusoid. Bioactive characteristics may be imparted to the coil through the use of coatings or materials that provoke a healing response in living tissue.

Abstract: A device for use within the lumen of a catheter to move an item positioned within the lumen relatively to the catheter is disclosed. The device is formed from an elongated member positionable within the lumen and reciprocably movable relatively to the catheter. A distal end of the member is engaged with the item, and a proximate end extends outwardly from the catheter. A gripping element is attached to the elongated member at the distal end. The gripping element has a free end that extends outwardly from the elongated member. The free end of the gripping element is engageable and disengageable with the item, the item being moved when the gripping element is engaged and the elongated member is moved relatively to the catheter.

Abstract: A stent graft is disclosed having a tubular graft formed from flexible filamentary members interwoven with a supporting monofilament defining radial corrugations around the graft. The ends of the graft are tapered from a smaller to a larger diameter and have stents attached thereto for engagement with a vascular vessel. The stents are attached to the graft by passing through two rows of slots cut in the graft and arranged in spaced relation to one another. The slots are positioned on a reverse fold of the graft to capture the stent. The stent graft may be modular and have limbs insertable into a base module. The base module has a main central space in communication with branch central spaces defined by a line of attachment between the branch central spaces. The terminus of the line of attachment forms a shoulder for retaining the limbs.

Abstract: A snare for capture and removal of arterial emboli is disclosed. The snare is formed from a basket of interlaced filamentary members or a skeleton of interconnected flexible members. The basket has an opening at one end. A tongue extends from the basket adjacent to the opening, the tongue being offset from the basket centerline. A tether is attached to the tongue. The basket is collapsible into a collapsed configuration for delivery within an artery via a catheter. The basket is resiliently biased to expand into an open configuration upon release from the catheter. The tongue has a leading edge that engages the embolus and separates it from the artery when the snare is drawn toward it using the tether.

Abstract: A device positionable in an opening in a flexible membrane or in the lumen of a vessel having a flexible sidewall. The device distends or biases opposite portions defining the opening or forming the vessel sidewall outwardly in the plane of the device. The outward biasing draws opposing portions of the opening or sidewall inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the device and into apposition or contact.

Abstract: A versatile covering process enabled through the identification and manipulation of a plurality of variables present in the electrospinning method of the present invention. By manipulating and controlling various identified variables, it is possible to use electrospinning to predictably produce thin materials having desirable characteristics. The fibers created by the electrospinning process have diameters averaging less than 100 micrometers. Proper manipulation of the identified variables ensures that these fibers are still wet upon contacting a target surface, thereby adhering with each other to form a cloth-like material and, if desired, adhering to the target surface to form a covering thereon. The extremely small size of these fibers, and the resulting interstices therebetween, provides an effective vehicle for drug and radiation delivery, and forms an effective membrane for use in fuel cells.

Abstract: A versatile covering process enabled through the identification and manipulation of a plurality of variables present in the electrospinning method of the present invention. By manipulating and controlling various identified variables, it is possible to use electrospinning to predictably produce thin materials having desirable characteristics. The fibers created by the electrospinning process have diameters averaging less than 100 micrometers. Proper manipulation of the identified variables ensures that these fibers are still wet upon contacting a target surface, thereby adhering with each other to form a cloth-like material and, if desired, adhering to the target surface to form a covering thereon. The extremely small size of these fibers, and the resulting interstices therebetween, provides an effective vehicle for drug and radiation delivery, and forms an effective membrane for use in fuel cells.

Abstract: A versatile covering process enabled through the identification and manipulation of a plurality of variables present in the electrospinning method of the present invention. By manipulating and controlling various identified variables, it is possible to use electrospinning to predictably produce thin materials having desirable characteristics. The fibers created by the electrospinning process have diameters averaging less than 100 micrometers. Proper manipulation of the identified variables ensures that these fibers are still wet upon contacting a target surface, thereby adhering with each other to form a cloth-like material and, if desired, adhering to the target surface to form a covering thereon. The extremely small size of these fibers, and the resulting interstices therebetween, provides an effective vehicle for drug and radiation delivery, and forms an effective membrane for use in fuel cells.

Abstract: Paramagnetic metals are separated from aqueous media containing them in low concentration by first fixing the metals on bacterial yeast or other cells so as to render the cells magnetic, and then recovering the cells by a high gradient magnetic separation technique. The metal and the cells are contacted in the presence of a compound which is converted by the cells into a product which interacts with the metal and causes it to become bound to the cells. The process is particularly useful for removing low concentrations of highly toxic metals, e.g. uranium, from industrial effluents containing them.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system of paralleled switching power supplies designed and controlled to have substantially identical output voltages and impedances so as to share the load equally. The output voltage of each supply is controlled to decrease linearly with increased output current, and the individual power supplies and their control circuits are designed and controlled to behave as identically as possible under the expected service conditions such that, under any given set of conditions, the output voltages and impedances of the several individual power supplies can be expected to be substantially identical and therefore they can be expected to share the load substantially equally. Provisions are made to make the control of the individual power supplies substantially independent of variations in the resistance of the power cables connecting them to the common load.

Abstract: A pulse width modulated power supply contains an inverter circuit which includes a plurality of transistors connected to a drive transformer. The transistors are caused to conduct alternatively to provide a switching waveform at an output, which waveform is filtered to provide a regulated DC output voltage.The supply includes means for preventing switch-through of the transistors while providing regulation of the output voltage to keep the same constant over a wide range of operating conditions.Other means provide an efficient drive for the inverter as well as the capability of operating the supply at either of two input voltage levels.