Abstract: This disclosure relates to a catheter with a fluid flow restrictor (e.g., a balloon) that includes a flow path. The catheter is useful for creating, and maintaining, an area of reduced pressure within a blood vessel for removing excess fluid from a patient's body. In particular, the catheter is dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel and includes a fluid flow restrictor that, when deployed, partially occludes the blood vessel. Pressure is reduced within the blood vessel downstream of the occlusion. The flow path allows some blood to flow past the restrictor, which prevents the blood vessel from stretching due to excessive pressure buildup, thereby allowing the area of reduced pressure to be maintained for extended periods of time.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a catheter system that for precisely positioning fluid flow restrictors within a blood vessel. In particular, this disclosure provides a catheter system that includes a sheath with a first fluid flow restrictor mounted thereto, and a catheter that is slidably disposed within the sheath and has a second fluid flow restrictor mounted thereto. Inside a blood vessel, the sheath and the catheter are separately slidable, thereby allowing the first and second fluid flow restrictors to be positioned at precise locations within the blood vessel.

Abstract: A cutting operation is performed with an apparatus having an elongated sleeve with a port in its distal section. The sleeve is connected to a vacuum source and a rotating shaft is disposed in the lumen of the sleeve. The shaft has a cutting blade at its distal end opposite the port. The blade has two cutting edges, a gear assembly operative to alternately rotate the shaft in a first direction and a second direction about the axis of symmetry of the shaft, and a motor for powering the gear assembly.

Abstract: A cutting operation is performed with an apparatus having an elongated sleeve with a port in its distal section. The sleeve is connected to a vacuum source and a rotating shaft is disposed in the lumen of the sleeve. The shaft has a cutting blade at its distal end opposite the port. The blade has two cutting edges, a gear assembly operative to alternately rotate the shaft in a first direction and a second direction about the axis of symmetry of the shaft, and a motor for powering the gear assembly.

Abstract: A fibre optic coupler assembly for optically aligning a sectioned fibre optic cable, the cable having a first end and a second end and comprising one or more fibre optic cores. The assembly comprises a first holder for holding the first end; a second holder for holding the second end coupled to the first end; a retractor for retracting the second end; an aligning unit comprising a resilient construction having a conduit passing through it, for linear alignment of the ends; whereby the first and second ends are coupled by the respective holders and whereby the second end can be linearly aligned in the conduit of the aligning unit, retracted using the retractor, and rotated to obtain rotational alignment of the fiber cores of the ends.

Abstract: A device (10) for distracting and supporting two substantially opposing tissue surfaces in a patient's body, to be introduced within the tissue surfaces in a minimally invasive procedure. The device comprises: a wrapping element (12); and an expandable structure (24) insertable between the two substantially opposing support surfaces of the wrapping element, adapted to be expanded between the two substantially opposing surfaces to a predetermined dimension.

Abstract: A fibre optic coupler assembly for optically aligning a sectioned fibre optic cable, the cable having a first end and a second end and comprising one or more fibre optic cores. The assembly comprises a first holder for holding the first end; a second holder for holding the second end coupled to the first end; a retractor for retracting the second end; an aligning unit comprising a resilient construction having a conduit passing through it, for linear alignment of the ends; whereby the first and second ends are coupled by the respective holders and whereby the second end can be linearly aligned in the conduit of the aligning unit, retracted using the retractor, and rotated to obtain rotational alignment of the fiber cores of the ends.

Abstract: device and method are disclosed of a plate for use in conjunction with at least another one of a plurality of other plates in a modular reconstructing and supporting assembly for reconstructing and supporting a diseased or fractured bone or within a space previously occupied by a diseased intervertebral disc of a patient. The plate is sized small enough to be suitable for separate insertion into the bone or the space, preferably through a canule, and arrangement with the other plates adjacently one on top of the other to construct scaffolding, so as to provide a supporting prosthesis.