Abstract: Compounds of formula (I), wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituent selected from: a hydrogen or halogen atom; a hydroxy, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, arylC.sub.1-4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-4 alkylthio, C.sub.1-4 alkoxyC.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkylC.sub.1-4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-4 alkanoyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulphonyl, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulphonyloxy, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulphonylC.sub.1-4 alkyl, arylsulphonyl, arylsulphonyloxy, arylsulphonylC.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulphonamido, C.sub.1-4 alkylamido, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulphonamidoC.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkylamidoC.sub.1-4 alkyl, arylsulphonamido, arylcarboxamido, arylsulphonamidoC.sub.1-4 alkyl, arylcarboxamidoC.sub.1-4 alkyl, aroyl, aroylC.sub.1-4 alkyl, or arylC.sub.1-4 alkanoyl group; a group R.sup.3 OCO(CH.sub.2).sub.p, R.sup.3 CON(R.sup.4)(CH2)p, R.sup.3 R.sup.4 NCO(CH.sub.2).sub.p or R.sup.3 R.sup.4 NSO.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.p where each of R.sup.3 and R.

Abstract: A system, a closure, and method of use for sealing a percutaneous puncture in a blood vessel. The puncture includes an opening in the vessel wall and a tract leading to the opening. The system includes an introducer sheath and associated positioning device, a hemostatic puncture closure, and a deployment instrument. The positioning device enables the introducer sheath to be positioned at a desired position within the vessel. The deployment instrument includes a tubular carrier storing the closure. The closure comprises a rigid, e.g., radio-opaque, anchor, a compressed collagen plug, and a thin filament connecting the two in a pulley-like arrangement. The instrument and introducer are used to introduce the closure into the puncture, with the anchor located within the artery and with the collagen plug within the puncture tract. A locking member is provided to hold the closure in place at its operative position, whereupon hemostasis occurs rapidly, thereby sealling the puncture.

Abstract: A system, a closure, and method of use for sealing a percutaneous puncture in a blood vessel. The puncture includes an opening in the vessel wall and a tract leading to the opening. The system includes an introducer sheath and associated positioning device, a hemostatic puncture closure, and a deployment instrument. The positioning device enables the introducer sheath to be positioned at a desired position within the vessel. The deployment instrument includes a tubular carrier holding the closure. The closure comprises a rigid, e.g., radio-opaque, anchor, a compressed collagen plug, and a thin filament connecting the two in a-pulley-like arrangement. The instrument and introducer are used to introduce the closure into the puncture, with the anchor located within the artery and with the collagen plug within the puncture tract. A locking member is provided to hold the closure in place at its operative position, whereupon hemostasis occurs rapidly, thereby sealing the puncture.

Abstract: A hemostatic closure for sealing a percutaneous puncture in a blood vessel. The puncture includes a tract leading to it from the skin of the being. The closure comprises a rigid, resorbable material anchor having a reinforcement strip therein, a compressed collagen plug, a thin filament connecting the anchor and the plug in a pulley-like arrangement, and a locking mechanism, The plug is deployed so that the anchor is pulled against the tissue contiguous with the puncture inside the artery and with the plug and the locking member within the puncture tract. Pulling on the filament moves the plug toward the anchor member to a puncture sealing position. The locking mechanism is arranged to be actuated to engage the filament in such a manner that the plug is held in the puncture sealing position. In one embodiment the locking mechanism comprises a compressible disk mounted on the filament.

Abstract: A system for sealing a percutaneous puncture in a blood vessel in a living being and method of use thereof. The system includes a hemostatic closure, a blood vessel locator device for determining the position of the blood vessel via the percutaneous puncture, and a deployment instrument for deploying the closure within the puncture to seal the puncture. The vessel locator includes means for enabling blood from the vessel to flow therethrough so that the position of the vessel can be rapidly determined. Once the vessel has been located the deployment instrument, which includes a tubular carrier storing the closure, is extend into the puncture to deploy the closure. The closure basically comprises a radiopaque rigid anchor for location within the blood vessel, a compressed collagen plug for location within the puncture tract leading to the vessel, and a thin filament connecting the two in a pulley-like arrangement.

Abstract: A system, a closure, and method for sealing a percutaneous puncture in a blood vessel. The puncture includes a tract leading to it from the skin of the being. The system includes an introducer sheath, a positioning device, a hemostatic puncture closure, and a deployment instrument. The positioning device positions the introducer sheath at a desired position within the vessel. The deployment instrument includes a tubular carrier having a distal end storing the closure. The carrier is extended via an introducer sheath through the tract and puncture into the blood vessel. The closure comprises a rigid anchor, a spacer member, a compressed collagen plug, and a thin filament connecting them in a pulley-like arrangement. The anchor has a centrally located domed projection. The carrier ejects the anchor through the introducer and puncture and then draws it against the free end of the introducer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing peak systolic blood pressure and the rate of change of velocity of the blood flow in a living being by passively absorbing a portion of the blood pressure during systole. The apparatus comprises an expandable/contractible chamber, e.g., a balloon, which is internally pressurized by a gas, e.g., carbon dioxide. The chamber has a surface portion which is moveable between first and second positions and vice versa when the chamber is contracted and expanded, respectively. The chamber is sufficiently small to be located at a desired situs, such as the aorta, so that the surface portion is subjected to blood pressure, whereupon it moves to the second position during systole to reduce the magnitude thereof while also reducing the rate of change of the velocity of the blood flow.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of use performing some medical procedure, e.g., positioning tissue, in the body of a being. The apparatus having a proximal portion and a distal portion, with the distal portion including a piercing end for forming a small percutaneous incision or puncture to enable the distal portion be inserted into the being's body to a desired internal position without the use of a trocar or other introducing device. The distal portion of the apparatus is elongated and has a longitudinal axis. An actuatable mechanism, e.g., a pair of moveable jaws, is located at the distal portion and is arranged to project outward laterally of the longitudinal axis for engagement with tissue located at the operative site to perform some operation, e.g., clamping. The actuatable mechanism is actuated by the proximal portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: A closure for sealing a percutaneous puncture in an vessel, e.g., an artery, or lumen. The puncture also includes a puncture tract in which a portion of the closure is to be located. The closure comprises an elongated rigid anchor member formed of a resorbable material, a sealing member formed of a resorbable material, e.g., compressed collagen plug, and a thin resorbable material filament, e.g., a suture, connecting the anchor member and the sealing member. The anchor member is located in the interior of the vessel, with the sealing member being located in the puncture tract. An elongated reinforcing filament or ribbon, formed of a resorbable material, is incorporated in the elongated anchor member to prevent any portion of it from breaking away in the event that the anchor is loaded beyond its breaking point.

Abstract: A device for determining the location of the wall of an artery in a living being via a percutaeous incision or puncture. The device comprises an elongated tubular member having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a passageway extending therethrough for receipt of a guide wire. The device is inserted through an introducer sheath having an open distal end into said percutaneous incision or puncture over said guide wire so its distal end portion is located within the artery and its proximal end portion is located outside of the body of the being. The has two liquid entrance ports in its distal end portion and one liquid outlet port in its proximal end portion. The liquid entrance ports and outlet port are in communication with each other through the device's passageway.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for cauterizing and/or removing or debulking tissue located on the surface or within the body of a living being. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a distal end portion at which a working head is located. The working head is arranged to be moved, e.g., rotated, repeated by a drive system including an electrically conductive cable. The cable is connected between the working head and one electrode of an electrosurgical power supply. The other electrode of the supply is connected to a plate arranged to engage a portion of the being's skin. The working head is arranged to be located adjacent the biological material and to be rotated at a relatively high speed to sweep a localized intense electrical current (e.g., arc) across a portion of tissue located immediately adjacent the working head. The repeated movement of the working head impacts the tissue to debulk it.

Abstract: A system and method of use for reflecting tissue located within the body of a living being. The system comprises at least one clip, a clip introducer instrument, a positioning member in the form of a tension cable assembly, and a clip removal instrument. The introducer instrument is arranged for delivering the clip through a small percutaneous incision or puncture to the situs of the tissue. The clip has a pair of jaws defining a mouth therebetween and are moveable between a open and a closed position. The jaws are biased to the closed position by an biasing member which is actuatable via the same or another percutaneous incision or puncture so that at least a portion of the tissue is trapped within the clip's mouth when it closes.

Abstract: A system, a closure, and method of sealing a percutaneous puncture in an artery. The system includes a conventional introducer sheath, a hemostatic puncture closure, and an instrument for deploying the closure. The instrument includes a tubular carrier storing the closure. The carrier has a distally located free end to be extended through the puncture and its associated tract. The closure comprises a rigid anchor, a compressed collagen plug, and a thin filament connect the two in a pulley-like arrangement. The carrier is operated to eject the plug through the puncture and to then draw it against the free end of the introducer. The instrument and introducer are then withdrawn together to pull the anchor against the tissue contiguous with the puncture on the inside of the artery.

Abstract: Closure devices and methods of use for sealing a small, e.g., percutaneous, incisions or punctures. The closure device may take many forms an basically comprises a somewhat elongated plug having a deformable distal end portion including a free end to which a thin retraction filament is connected. The closure device is arranged to be introduced into the body of the being through the incision or puncture by an introducer so that the distal portion of the plug is located on one side of said tissue and its proximal portion is located on the other side of that tissue, with the filament extending through the incision or puncture. The filament is arranged to be grasped and pulled in the proximal direction to deform the distal portion of the plug so that it cannot pass back through the incision or puncture, whereupon the puncture or incision is sealed by the deformed distal portion of the plug.

Abstract: A method of destroying tissue such as a gall bladder located within the body of a living. A sclerosing agent is introduced into the body in a volume contiguous with the surface of the tissue to be destroyed. The sclerosing agent comprises a flowable material made up of a liquid carrier and a large plurality of abrasive particles, e.g., acicular particles of carborundum, silicon carbide, etc., Optionally, a symphysis agent, such as an antibiotic, may be introduced into the volume. Once the agent is introduced, it is caused to circulate therein whereupon its scrapes across the surface of the tissue to effect the sclerosing thereof.

Abstract: A decorative waterfall comprises a housing having a top and bottom and a front and back wall; a reservoir for water in the bottom of the housing; a reservoir for water at the top of the housing; a pump for conveying the water in the bottom reservoir to the top reservoir, whereby the water overflows the top reservoir and flows down the front wall; and at least one indenture for creating a sound resembling the sound of a natural waterfall.

Abstract: A catheter instrument for effecting some minimally invasive medical procedure within the body of a living being. The instrument comprises an elongated tubular member, a working head, a rotary drive cable, and a drive disabling member. The tubular member is of small cross-sectional area to enable it to be inserted through a small opening in the body of the being. The working head is coupled to the drive means to be operated, e.g., rotated, thereby to effect some procedure adjacent its situs. The drive cable is coupled to a motor to efffect its rotation. The elongated member serves to carry a liquid, e.g. water, through at least a portion of it during the use of the instrument. The drive disabling member is responsive to the presence of liquid through the tubular member to change shape and/or size to prevent the drive cable from rotating some time after liquid is carried through the tubular member. This prevents further operation of said working head.

Abstract: A catheter and method of use for engaging material within the body of a living being to accomplish a medical and/or surgical procedure, e.g., form and enlarging an opening in a restriction in a vessel, duct, or lumen formed by the material, or to destroy a stone or other hard body formed of the material. The catheter comprises an elongated body portion and a rotatable working head located at the distal end of the catheter. The catheter is positioned with the working head adjacent the material to be enlarged. The working head comprises at least two, non-sharp, impacting surfaces, each of differing aggressiveness of restriction opening action. The less aggressive of the impacting surfaces is brought into engagement with the material when the working head is rotated in one rotational direction. The more aggressive of the impacting surfaces is then rotated in the opposite rotational direction and brought into engagement with the material to complete the procedure.

Abstract: A catheter and method of use for engaging material within the body of a living being to accomplish a medical and/or surgical procedure, e.g., from and enlarging an opening in a restriction in a vessel, duct, or lumen formed by the material, or to destroy a stone or other hard body formed of the material. The catheter comprises an elongated body portion and a rotatable working head located at the distal end of the catheter. The catheter is positioned with the working head adjacent the material to be enlarged. The working head comprises at least two, non-sharp, impacting surfaces, each of differing aggressiveness of restriction opening action. The less aggressive of the impacting surfaces is brought into engagement with the material when the working head is rotated in one rotational direction. The more aggressive of the impacting surfaces is then rotated in the opposite rotational direction and brought into engagement with the material to complete the procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus for disintegrating or otherwise destroying a stone, such as a gallstone, within the body of a living being. The apparatus comprises a small diameter catheter having a longitudinal axis and a working head located at the distal end thereof. The catheter is capable of being located at any position within the body so that the working head is adjacent the stone. The working head is arranged to be rotated at a high speed about the longitudinal axis of the catheter. The working head comprises at least one bladed member having an impacting surface thereon. The bladed member is arranged to move from a retracted position wherein its impacting surface is located adjacent the periphery of the catheter to an extended position wherein the impacting surface extend substantially beyond the periphery of the catheter when the working head is rotated. The impacting surface is arranged so that when it rotates in the extended position, it impacts the stone to disintegrate or otherwise destroy the stone.