Abstract: A system for treating an aneurysm in a vessel includes a delivery device having a delivery portion suitable for delivery of embolic material. The delivery device is placed in a neck of the aneurysm and an expandable member is placed proximate the neck. The expandable member is expanded to overlie substantially the entire neck. Embolic material is delivered to the aneurysm with a delivery device. The expandable member is held over the neck to inhibit movement of the embolic material out of the aneurysm. Blood is allowed to flow out of the aneurysm, past the neck of the aneurysm, and through the vessel while the expandable member is held over the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A system for treating an aneurysm in a vessel includes a delivery device having a delivery portion suitable for delivery of embolic material. The delivery device is placed in a neck of the aneurysm and an expandable member is placed proximate the neck. The expandable member is expanded to overlie substantially the entire neck. Embolic material is delivered to the aneurysm with a delivery device. The expandable member is held over the neck to inhibit movement of the embolic material out of the aneurysm. Blood is allowed to flow out of the aneurysm, past the neck of the aneurysm, and through the vessel while the expandable member is held over the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A system for treating an aneurysm in a vessel includes a delivery device having a delivery portion suitable for delivery of embolic material. The delivery device is placed in a neck of the aneurysm and an expandable member is placed proximate the neck. The expandable member is expanded to overlie substantially the entire neck. Embolic material is delivered to the aneurysm with a delivery device. The expandable member is held over the neck to inhibit movement of the embolic material out of the aneurysm. Blood is allowed to flow out of the aneurysm, past the neck of the aneurysm, and through the vessel while the expandable member is held over the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: An implantable fiducial marker having a sealed cavity for the introduction of an imaging agent that provides imaging capability in several modes, including Computed Tomographic imaging (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is disclosed. The marker may be permanent, or it may be temporary and readily detachable from its anchor site. Combinations or agents imageable under CT scanning are combined with agents imageable under MRI scanning.

Abstract: An implantable fiducial marker having a sealed cavity for the introduction of an imaging agent that provides imaging capability in several modes, including Computed Tomographic imaging (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is disclosed. The marker may be permanent, or it may be temporary and readily detachable from its anchor site. Combinations or agents imageable under CT scanning are combined with agents imageable under MRI scanning.

Abstract: A detachable cap for use in determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot-like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: A surgeon can select an entry point and a target point in a preoperative image volume of the patient. The target point and entry point form a trajectory line along which the surgeon wishes to perform a surgical procedure such as a biopsy and line up a surgical instrument. Once a surgical platform is moved along a guide arm arc close to a point on the trajectory line, the surgical platform is locked to the guiding arm. A pivot point position at the center of a ball joint in the middle of a metal plate is then arranged to be exactly at a point on the trajectory line. The metal plate is locked down and the ball joint is rotated to ensure that the surgical sleeve extends exactly along the trajectory line. This allows a decoupling between the position and orientation movements required to line the surgical sleeve up with the trajectory line to perform a surgical procedure. An interoperative localization device (ILD) is used to track the position of the surgical guide relative to the image space.

Abstract: An occlusion system treats an aneurysm in a parent vessel. The parent vessel defines a lumen that has a lumen wall. The aneurysm has a neck in communication with the lumen. The occlusion system includes a stent configured for deployment in the parent vessel. The stent has at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is permeable to blood flow and is arranged such that, when the stent is deployed, the first portion is spaced from the neck of the aneurysm. The second portion is less permeable to blood flow than the first portion and is arranged such that, when the stent is deployed, the second portion overlies the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A system for treating an aneurysm in a vessel includes a delivery device having a delivery portion suitable for delivery of embolic material. The delivery device is placed in a neck of the aneurysm and an expandable member is placed proximate the neck. The expandable member is expanded to overlie substantially the entire neck. Embolic material is delivered to the aneurysm with a delivery device. The expandable member is held over the neck to inhibit movement of the embolic material out of the aneurysm. Blood is allowed to flow out of the aneurysm, past the neck of the aneurysm, and through the vessel while the expandable member is held over the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A detachable cap for use in determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot-like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: A detachable cap for use in determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot--like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for inserting a fiducial marker. It comprises a housing and guide assembly, an obturator assembly, a drill for forming a bore hole at an implantation site, and a marker inserter for inserting a marker into the bore hole. The housing and guide assembly comprise a cylindrical housing having a bore provided therein, and a guide tube that is disposed and shiftable within the bore of the housing. The obturator assembly, drill and marker inserter are insertable in the distal end of the guide tube and shiftable therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for inserting a fiducial marker. It comprises a housing and guide assembly, an obturator assembly, a drill for forming a bore hole at an implantation site, and a marker inserter for inserting a marker into the bore hole. The housing and guide assembly comprise a cylindrical housing having a bore provided therein, and a guide tube that is disposed and shiftable within the bore of the housing. The obturator assembly, drill and marker inserter are insertable in the distal end of the guide tube and shiftable therein.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of the center of the imageable portion of a fiducial marker is disclosed. The method includes the use of a detachable cap. The lower portion of the cap has three arms and a boss for providing a detachable connection with an implanted base portion to which an imaging marker can be attached. The upper portion of the cap includes a divot--like depression that is configured to mate with a ball whose center can be determined. The ball, marker, and divot are configured so that the center of the ball, when mated to the divot, is coincident with the center of the marker when it is attached to the base in place of the cap. Knowledge of the location of the center of the ball when it is brought into engagement with the divot of the cap can be used to determine the location of the center of the marker when it is attached to the base.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use as a component part of a catheter system wherein a proximal section is exteriorized above the skin for connection to a liquid drug source, the article comprising a flexible sleeve having an advancement tip at its distal end to facilitate advancement of the sleeve into a passage beneath the skin created by tunneling the catheter subcutaneously to an exit site where the proximal end is exteriorized, the advancement tip having a generally bullet-shaped leading end and a base section having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve, the advancement tip having a channel extending therethrough for receiving the catheter for passage through the sleeve; an adapter for placing the proximal end of the catheter in liquid communication with the drug source, the adapter having a channel extending longitudinally between the adapter ends, an opening at the distal end of the adapter communicating with the adapter channel and through which the proximal end of the catheter

Abstract: A novel subcutaneous tunneling device is disclosed which is particularly directed to long-term epidural catheters for relieving intractable pain, which catheters require tunneling from the paravertebral incision where the catheter is introduced into the epidural space to a lateral location where administration of a narcotic is more conveniently handled. The tunneling device consists essentially of a hollow shaft having a solid removable cutting tip on one end thereof. Following removal of the solid cutting tip, a catheter, cannula or other tubular article may then be passed through the shaft.