Abstract: The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device which is capable of stabilizing, straightening, expanding and/or flattening the side wall of a body lumen and/or body cavity so as to better present the side wall tissue for examination and/or treatment during an endoscopic procedure. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device capable of steadying and/or stabilizing the distal tips and/or working ends of instruments inserted into a body lumen and/or body cavity, whereby to facilitate the use of those instruments.

Abstract: The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device which is capable of stabilizing, straightening, expanding and/or flattening the side wall of a body lumen and/or body cavity so as to better present the side wall tissue for examination and/or treatment during an endoscopic procedure. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device capable of steadying and/or stabilizing the distal tips and/or working ends of instruments inserted into a body lumen and/or body cavity, whereby to facilitate the use of those instruments.

Abstract: A safety helmet that provides improved protection against injuries that can result from both linear and angular head acceleration is described. The helmet features an outer shell, an interface structure and a liner. The liner is a matrix structure formed from silkworm cocoons. Minimization of weight and sustainability, without compromising functionality, are also features of the helmet.

Abstract: Apparatus for straightening and flattening a side wall of a body lumen or body cavity so as to provide three dimensional exposure of a lesion or abnormality within the body lumen or body cavity, and simultaneously providing for the stabilization or docking of the working end of an endoscope or surgical tool, the apparatus comprising: a deployable hoop expander comprising a structure defining a volume; the deployable hoop expander being configured so as to be transitionable between (i) a reduced cross-sectional configuration, and (ii) an expanded cross-sectional configuration, whereby the deployable hoop expander can be configured in its reduced cross-sectional configuration for easy insertion into a body lumen, and it can thereafter be re-configured into its expanded cross-sectional configuration so as to engage, straighten and flatten the side wall of the body lumen, whereby to provide three dimensional exposure of the lesion or abnormality within the body lumen or body cavity, the deployable hoop expande

Abstract: The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device which is capable of stabilizing, straightening, expanding and/or flattening the side wall of a body lumen and/or body cavity so as to better present the side wall tissue for examination and/or treatment during an endoscopic procedure. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device capable of steadying and/or stabilizing the distal tips and/or working ends of instruments inserted into a body lumen and/or body cavity, whereby to facilitate the use of those instruments.

Abstract: A method for making a device for causing thrombosis of an aneurysm, wherein said device comprises a single elastic filament configurable between (i) an elongated, substantially linear configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration, said method comprising: providing a sheet of shape memory material; producing a single filament, two-dimensional interim structure from said sheet of shape memory material; mounting said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure to a fixture so that said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is transformed into said longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration; and heat treating said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure while it is mounted to said fixture so as to produce said device in its longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration.

Abstract: An expandable substantially spherical structure for deployment in a blood vessel or other body lumen, comprising: an open frame formed out of a closed loop of filament and configured to assume (i) a collapsed configuration in the form of a substantially two-dimensional elongated loop structure so as to facilitate insertion into the blood vessel or other body lumen, and (ii) an expanded configuration in the form of a three-dimensional substantially spherical structure so as to facilitate retention at a site in the blood vessel or other body lumen; and a flow-restricting face carried by the open frame; wherein the open frame is configured so as to permit substantially normal flow therethrough when the open frame is in its expanded configuration, and further wherein the flow-restricting face is configured so as to restrict flow therethrough.

Abstract: Apparatus for straightening and flattening a side wall of a body lumen or body cavity so as to provide three dimensional exposure of an abnormality within the body lumen, and simultaneously providing for the stabilization of the working end of an endoscope or surgical tool, the apparatus comprising a deployable hoop expander comprising a structure defining a volume and being configured so as to be transitionable between a reduced cross-sectional configuration for easy insertion into a body lumen and an expanded cross-sectional configuration for engaging, straightening and flattening the side wall of the body lumen, whereby to provide three dimensional exposure of the abnormality within the body lumen, the deployable hoop expander being configured for simultaneously providing for the docking of the end of the endoscope or other instrument so as to stabilize the same for endoscopic viewing and/or therapy.

Abstract: A method for treating rectal prolapse, the method comprising: inserting a rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus into a prolapsed rectum via the anus; maneuvering the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus so that the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus securely engages the rectum; advancing the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus distally so as to return the prolapsed rectum to its normal, non-prolapsed state; and securing the rectum to supporting tissue whereby to retain the rectum in its normal, non-prolapsed state.

Abstract: A Y-Lock tracheal stent system consisting of a stent device, for emplacement in the larynx, and a stent delivery system. A method for employing the stent delivery system to emplace the stent device.

Abstract: A safety helmet is comprised of novel silk materials for both the outer shell and/or the foam liner. The helmet provides improved protection against both linear and angular head acceleration, and has complementary properties to protect against low- and high-energy impacts. Minimization of weight and sustainability, without compromising functionality, are also features of the helmet.

Abstract: A method for making a device for causing thrombosis of an aneurysm, wherein said device comprises a single elastic filament configurable between (i) an elongated, substantially linear configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration, said method comprising: providing a sheet of shape memory material; producing a single filament, two-dimensional interim structure from said sheet of shape memory material; mounting said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure to a fixture so that said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is transformed into said longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration; and heat treating said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure while it is mounted to said fixture so as to produce said device in its longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration.

Abstract: A method for treating rectal prolapse, the method comprising: inserting a rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus into a prolapsed rectum via the anus; maneuvering the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus so that the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus securely engages the rectum; advancing the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus distally so as to return the prolapsed rectum to its normal, non-prolapsed state; and securing the rectum to supporting tissue whereby to retain the rectum in its normal, non-prolapsed state.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for accessing the wall of a body lumen while simultaneously providing zone isolation and fluid bypass capability, the apparatus comprising: an erectable proximal isolation barrier capable of making a sealing engagement with the wall of the body lumen; an erectable distal isolation barrier capable of making a sealing engagement with the wall of the body lumen; a bypass channel secured to, and extending between, the proximal isolation barrier and the distal isolation barrier, the bypass channel comprising a lumen communicating with the region proximal to the proximal isolation barrier and with the region distal to the distal isolation barrier; and a working catheter passing through the proximal isolation barrier and terminating short of the distal isolation barrier, the working catheter providing a central lumen for providing access to the wall of the body lumen between the proximal isolation barrier and the distal isolation barrier.

Abstract: A Y-Lock tracheal stent system consisting of a stent device, for emplacement in the larynx, and a stent delivery system. A method for employing the stent delivery system to emplace the stent device.

Abstract: A method for making a device for causing thrombosis of an aneurysm, wherein said device comprises a single elastic filament configurable between (i) an elongated, substantially linear configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration, said method comprising: providing a sheet of shape memory material; producing a single filament, two-dimensional interim structure from said sheet of shape memory material; mounting said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure to a fixture so that said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is transformed into said longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration; and heat treating said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure while it is mounted to said fixture so as to produce said device in its longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration.

Abstract: A method for repairing an abnormality in the wall of a body lumen, the method comprising: isolating the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen from flow in the body lumen; positioning flowable forming material adjacent to the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen; and transforming the flowable forming material into a substantially stationary state so as to repair the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen. Apparatus for repairing an abnormality in the wall of a body lumen, the apparatus comprising: a supply of flowable forming material; zone isolation apparatus for isolating the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen from flow in the body lumen; and positioning apparatus for positioning the flowable forming material adjacent to the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen so as to repair the abnormality in the wall of the body lumen.

Abstract: The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device which is capable of stabilizing, straightening, expanding and/or flattening the side wall of a body lumen and/or body cavity so as to better present the side wall tissue for examination and/or treatment during an endoscopic procedure. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device capable of steadying and/or stabilizing the distal tips and/or working ends of instruments inserted into a body lumen and/or body cavity, whereby to facilitate the use of those instruments.

Abstract: The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device which is capable of stabilizing, straightening, expanding and/or flattening the side wall of a body lumen and/or body cavity so as to better present the side wall tissue for examination and/or treatment during an endoscopic procedure. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of a novel endoscopic device capable of steadying and/or stabilizing the distal tips and/or working ends of instruments inserted into a body lumen and/or body cavity, whereby to facilitate the use of those instruments.

Abstract: A device comprising a single closed loop of elastic filament configurable between (i) a first configuration for movement along a blood vessel; and (ii) a second configuration for lodging within a blood vessel, the second configuration providing a single flow-restricting face sized and configured to cover the mouth of the aneurysm and obstruct blood flow to the aneurysm while permitting substantially normal blood flow through the blood vessel, with the degree of obstruction at the mouth of the aneurysm being such that the aneurysm thromboses when the face is positioned over the aneurysm, the flow-restricting face comprising a plurality of lengths of the closed loop of filament disposed in close proximity to one another in a switchback configuration, and at least one leg for holding the flow-restricting face adjacent the mouth of the aneurysm, the leg configured so as to maintain substantially normal blood flow through the blood vessel.