Abstract: A non-invasive wound closure device without use of any needles, sutures, staples or tissue-adhesives, to reapproximate the everted edges of a wound of a patient, has two side strips each containing a customized bandage adhered to either side of the wound that is closed by mating and mechanistically interlocking the two side strips, that can also be reopened by mechanistically unlocking and separating the mated side strips, and that can be then reclosed by repeating the closure process. Each side strip has interlocking feature(s) to securely lock them in place with or without an additional interlocking strip or an interlocking slider and has an integral adhesive-bandage layer on the bottom to adhere to the patient's skin. The device may be made in various lengths to encompass a variety of wounds or in a plurality of segmented side strips so as to align the device along a curved wound.

Abstract: A helical tissue cutter, used for safely and speedily resecting biological tissues and spiraling out the resected tissues and any biological debris, having an enclosed, exposable, retractable cutter with a helical blade that is continued further as a helical fin; a tubular curved trocar having a capability and means to intravaginally carry, deploy and mechanistically release a mesh sling attached to an anchor using a retropubic approach to treat stress urinary incontinence; a turnable trocar that can be used on the right or left side of the groin to deploy a mesh sling by applying a transobturator approach to treat women's stress urinary incontinence; and a handle having a motorized capability and means to couple, attach, handle, operate, and retract the helical tissue cutter while having an aspiration connection for a vacuumized tissue collector, or to couple, attach, handle, and operate the tubular curved trocar or the turnable trocar.

Abstract: A tamper-resistant pill and/or capsule dispenser for attachment to an electronic control and communication unit including inter alia, an electric actuator mechanism, a microprocessor, a graphical user interface and a communications unit, the dispenser including sensors operative under control of said electronic control and communication unit to monitor and dispense prescribed dosages of medications or vitamin supplements in pill and/or capsule form and help control, track and maintain a record of pills and/or capsules dispensed to a patient to ensure that the dispensed product is not improperly removed from or replaced in the dispenser, said dispenser comprising: a generally cylindrical housing having an open top, and a generally closed bottom, except for a pill dispensing opening formed in a lower side portion of the cylindrical housing; a cylindrical sleeve open at its top end and closed at its bottom end, said sleeve being eccentrically disposed within said cylindrical housing and away from the side of sai

Abstract: A tamper-resistant pill and/or capsule dispenser for attachment to an electronic control and communication unit including inter alia, an electric actuator mechanism, a microprocessor, a graphical user interface and a communications unit, the dispenser including sensors operative under control of said electronic control and communication unit to monitor and dispense prescribed dosages of medications or vitamin supplements in pill and/or capsule form and help control, track and maintain a record of pills and/or capsules dispensed to a patient to ensure that the dispensed product is not improperly removed from or replaced in the dispenser, said dispenser comprising: a generally cylindrical housing having an open top, and a generally closed bottom, except for a pill dispensing opening formed in a lower side portion of the cylindrical housing; a cylindrical sleeve open at its top end and closed at its bottom end, said sleeve being eccentrically disposed within said cylindrical housing and away from the side of sai

Abstract: An improved handle for a steerable catheter apparatus steerably manipulated by steering wires or rods, and including an elongated housing having one end thereof adapted for attachment to the proximal end of the steerable catheter; a steering actuator carried by the housing and including an elongated lever pivotally affixed to the housing and rotatable about an axis transverse to both the length of the housing and the length of the lever and further having an end thereof attached to the steering wires or rods of the catheter to cause deformation of at least a portion of the catheter; and a locking mechanism carried by the lever for selectively locking the steering actuator in place relative to the housing during at least a portion of the time of use of the catheter apparatus.

Abstract: A tentacular electrode catheter having a proximal shaft component and a steerable distal shaft component with a polar array of multiple bi-directionally deflectable tentacles extending longitudinally around the distal shaft component. The distal end of each tentacle has a tip electrode for recording bio-potentials, pacing, and delivering and depositing RF energy. The tentacles are advantageously attached to the proximal shaft component at its junction with the distal shaft component and extend over a portion of the distal shaft component. The portion of the distal shaft component that is axially at the center of the polar array of tentacles thus acts as a centralizer and stabilizer for the tentacles, and is accordingly referred to as a centralizer/stabilizer distal shaft component.

Abstract: An improved handle for a steerable catheter apparatus steerably manipulated by steering wires or rods, and including an elongated housing having one end thereof adapted for attachment to the proximal end of the steerable catheter; a steering actuator carried by the housing and including an elongated lever pivotally affixed to the housing and rotatable about an axis transverse to both the length of the housing and the length of the lever and further having an end thereof attached to the steering wires or rods of the catheter to cause deformation of at least a portion of the catheter; and a locking mechanism carried by the lever for selectively locking the steering actuator in place relative to the housing during at least a portion of the time of use of the catheter apparatus.

Abstract: A Wireless Catheter Module (WCM) is adapted for attachment to a diagnostic catheter to enable the bio-electrical signals, analog signals picked up by the probing electrodes imbedded in the attached catheter, to be captured and digitized by A-to-D converter electronics in the WCM whereupon packets of the digitized signals can then be transmitted wirelessly from the WCM to a remote Wireless Base Station (WBS) forming a receiver component of the present system. The WBS is adapted for operative connected to an EP recording and cardiac stimulation system. In cases where multiple catheters are to be used in a study, each catheter may be fitted with an appropriately configured WCM and the catheter modules can communicate simultaneously with the WBS.

Abstract: A movable and radiologically protective enclosure for a physician or medical technician working in close proximity to a source of radiologic energy. The embodiments include a lower assembly for enclosing and radiologically shielding the lower torso and legs of the user, and for supporting an upper assembly designed to enclose and radiologically shield the upper torso and arms of the user. A transparent radiologically impervious dome or the like is carried by the upper assembly to receive and protect the head of the user as well as allow visual and functional access to patients and/or radiologic equipment Means are provided for allowing the upper assembly to be vertically adjusted in position and to angularly tilt the torso and/or head protecting components. Protective sleeves are also provided at frontal ports for allowing the user to protectedly reach into the work area.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus carrying RF ablation electrodes on a helically configured portion of a flexible tube that can be inserted into the femoral artery of a patient, advanced into a renal artery, and then be manipulated to properly position electrodes carried by the helical tube to contact the endoluminal surface of the artery. While instrumentally monitoring the endoluminal surface's temperature and impedance (measured with electrodes that are in an intimate contact with the surface), a low level of RF energy can be applied to selected sites on the interior (endoluminal) surface of the artery in order to ablate the renal sympathetic nerves without affecting the abdominal, pelvic, or lower-extremity nerves.

Abstract: A diagnostic catheter with a steering device to direct the distal end of the catheter while it is inserted in a vessel. The catheter may include either a bi-directional steering mechanism, or a unidirectional steering mechanism. Pre-formed catheters with no steering means are also provided. The catheter bodies include a plurality of ring electrodes used for sensing the intracardial electrogram signal during operation of the catheter. The ring electrodes are placed in ohmic contact with their corresponding signal wires by a solderless connection. In addition, the catheter may be embodied as a basket catheter including a plurality of splines. After the catheter is inserted into the vessel or organ to be examined (typically the heart), the splines may be expanded from an at-rest position to form the basket. A central retractable and steerable member is included to provide the expansion force. The expansion force can also be provided by moving the proximal portion of the catheter relative to the central member.

Abstract: A dual 4-bar linkage steering mechanism consists of four strip/rod-like prismatic or disk/sphere-like revolute side links, called, side link 1A, side link 1B, side link 2A and side link 2B; two strip/rod-like prismatic coupler links, called, coupler link A, coupler link B; and a common fixed link. In one option, the side link 1A and the side link 1B are integrated to act as a whole, and side link 2A and the side link 2B are also integrated to act as a whole. In other option, the side link 1A and the side link 1B are separate and move independently, and the side link 2A and the side link 2B are also separate and move independently. The coupler link A and coupler link B are either rigid or flexible.

Abstract: A dual 4-bar linkage steering mechanism consists of four strip/rod-like prismatic or disk/sphere-like revolute side links, called, side link 1A, side link 1B, side link 2A and side link 2B; two strip/rod-like prismatic coupler links, called, coupler link A, coupler link B; and a common fixed link. In one option, the side link 1A and the side link 1B are integrated to act as a whole, and side link 2A and the side link 2B are also integrated to act as a whole. In other option, the side link 1A and the side link 1B are separate and move independently, and the side link 2A and the side link 2B are also separate and move independently. The coupler link A and coupler link B are either rigid or flexible.

Abstract: A diagnostic catheter with a steering device to direct the distal end of the catheter while it is inserted in a vessel. The catheter may include either a bi-directional steering mechanism, or a unidirectional steering mechanism. Pre-formed catheters with no steering means are also provided. The catheter bodies include a plurality of ring electrodes used for sensing the intracardial electrogram signal during operation of the catheter. The ring electrodes are placed in ohmic contact with their corresponding signal wires by a solderless connection. In addition, the catheter may be embodied as a basket catheter including a plurality of splines. After the catheter is inserted into the vessel or organ to be examined (typically the heart), the splines may be expanded from an at-rest position to form the basket. A central retractable and steerable member is included to provide the expansion force. The expansion force can also be provided by moving the proximal portion of the catheter relative to the central member.

Abstract: A diagnostic catheter with a steering device to direct the distal end of the catheter while it is inserted in a vessel. The catheter may include either a bi-directional steering mechanism, or a unidirectional steering mechanism. Pre-formed catheters with no steering means are also provided. The catheter bodies include a plurality of ring electrodes used for sensing the intracardial electrogram signal during operation of the catheter. The ring electrodes are placed in ohmic contact with their corresponding signal wires by a solderless connection. In addition, the catheter may be embodied as a basket catheter including a plurality of splines. After the catheter is inserted into the vessel or organ to be examined (typically the heart), the splines may be expanded from an at-rest position to form the basket. A central retractable and steerable member is included to provide the expansion force. The expansion force can also be provided by moving the proximal portion of the catheter relative to the central member.

Abstract: A diagnostic catheter with a steering device to direct the distal end of the catheter while it is inserted in a vessel. The catheter may include either a bi-directional steering mechanism, or a unidirectional steering mechanism. Pre-formed catheters with no steering means are also provided. The catheter bodies include a plurality of ring electrodes used for sensing the intracardial electrogram signal during operation of the catheter. The ring electrodes are placed in ohmic contact with their corresponding signal wires by a solderless connection. In addition, the catheter may be embodied as a basket catheter including a plurality of splines. After the catheter is inserted into the vessel or organ to be examined (typically the heart), the splines may be expanded from an at-rest position to form the basket. A central retractable and steerable member is included to provide the expansion force. The expansion force can also be provided by moving the proximal portion of the catheter relative to the central member.