Abstract: A medical instrument is disclosed that includes an elongated probe section having a length (L) between a proximal and a distal probe section end. The probe section includes a plurality of carbon fibers that is arrayed along the axis and embedded in a medical grade, biocompatible epoxy resin. The probe section is constructed to be rigid by controlling the density of carbon fibers such that the maximum predetermined off-axis deflection (dmax) is less than about 30% of the probe section length (dmax<0.3 L). A handle is affixed, and positioned to be coaxial with, the proximal end of the probe section. For the instrument, the probe section is constructed of materials that are impervious to an imaging modality (e.g. magnetic fields). For example, with this construction, the probe section can be immersed in a homogenous magnetic field that is established by an MRI system without distorting the resulting MRI image.

Abstract: An implantable, time-released substance delivery device includes a casing having an exterior surface, and a number of pores disposed on the exterior surface of the casing. The time-released substance delivery device further has an interior chamber disposed within the casing, and a number of excretion tubes disposed within the casing. Each of the excretion tubes fluidly connects the interior chamber to one of the pores.

Abstract: A prosthesis for insertion into a body passage is disclosed. The prosthesis includes a plastic or polymer base material which is compatible with living tissue and which possesses a memory of a predetermined configuration. The base material further has a glass transition temperature at which the prosthesis can be molded intravascularly from the predetermined configuration to a larger-radius implant configuration, which is sized and shaped to conform to an internal anatomy of the body passage to expand a narrow segment of or to occlude an opening of an out pouch of the body passage. The glass transition temperature is greater than a temperature of the body passage so that the prosthesis after being molded can be allowed to cool to the temperature of the body passage.

Abstract: A marker assembly formed of a carbon fiber composition is disclosed. The marker assembly includes a shaft sized and shaped to be inserted into an organ, wherein the shaft includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The distal end of the shaft is sized and shaped to be positioned near a target region within the organ, and the shaft includes a lumen extending through the shaft in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The lumen is constructed to accommodate a needle therethrough, so that the needle enters through the proximal end of the shaft, extends through the shaft, and exits through the distal end of the shaft. The marker assembly can also include other radiopaque or semi-radiopaque materials that provide higher definition imaging than titanium, when implanted within the organ.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning instrumentation into a target region of a brain generally includes an attachment member, specifically a disc adapted to be secured to a cranium, and a marker assembly adapted to be connected to a locator device, for example a conventional stereotaxic assembly. The marker assembly includes a detachable cannula, and is further adapted to be secured to the attachment member in order to immobilize the cannula at a precise position in the brain, thus facilitating additional imaging of the patient in order to determine the position of the cannula with respect to the target region.

Abstract: A marker assembly formed of a carbon fiber composition is disclosed. The marker assembly includes a shaft sized and shaped to be inserted into an organ, wherein the shaft includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The distal end of the shaft is sized and shaped to be positioned near a target region within the organ, and the shaft includes a lumen extending through the shaft in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The lumen is constructed to accommodate a needle therethrough, so that the needle enters through the proximal end of the shaft, extends through the shaft, and exits through the distal end of the shaft. The marker assembly can also include other radiopaque or semi-radiopaque materials that provide higher definition imaging than titanium, when implanted within the organ.