Abstract: An instrument, a closure, and method of use for sealing an opening, e.g., a percutaneous incision or puncture, in a living being. The instrument includes a tubular carrier storing the closure. The carrier has a distally located free end to be extended through the opening. The closure comprises an anchoring portion, a sealing portion and a thin filament connected therebetween. The instrument is operated to eject the anchoring portion of the closure through the incision or puncture and to then draw that portion against the free end of the carrier. The instrument is then withdrawn to pull the anchoring portion of the closure against the tissue contiguous with the incision or puncture. Further withdrawing of the instrument draws the sealing portion of the closure out of the carrier, whereupon it moves with respect to the anchoring portion and into engagement with the tissue contiguous with the opening on the opposite side of the anchoring portion to seal it. Signals are produced to indicate proper operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for destroying a stone or other hard body located within the body of a living being at a location where the stone is within a liquid. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a rotatable working head at its distal end. The working head comprises at least two radially extending blade-like members, each having plural force concentrating impacting surfaces and plural grooves. The working head is rotated at a high speed while it is in engagement with the stone. The rotation of the working head produces a flow of the liquid past the working head, with some portion of the liquid flowing through the plural grooves. The impacting surfaces impact the stone to break it into particles which are carried by the flow into repeated engagement with the impacting surfaces for further pulverization. The liquid flowing through the grooves reduces the boundary layer effect which tends to sweep smaller particles away from the impacting surfaces.

Abstract: A catheter and a method of use for pumping of blood through a living being's vascular system. The catheter has an expandable distal end portion and is introduced into the aorta so that that portion is at a predetermined position spaced from the aortic valve. The catheter comprises an expandable pump and a flexible, skirt-like barrier, both located at the distal end portion. The distal end portion also has an inlet and an outlet. When the catheter is located at the predetermined position its inlet is in fluid communication with the aorta distally of the pump while its outlet is in fluid communication with the aorta proximally of the pump, and the barrier engages the inner periphery of the aorta. Operating the pump causes blood to flow through the aorta, with the barrier ensuring that substantially all of the blood flows into the inlet to the pump means and out the outlet from the pump means and not around the exterior of the distal end portion of the catheter as the pump is operated.

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.

Abstract: A flexible, small diameter catheter for effecting the formation of a restriction in a vessel, duct or lumen in a living being and methods of using the catheter. The catheter contains a working head arranged for high speed movement with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter. The high speed movement of the working head causes the tissue of the vessel, duct or lumen to produce a restriction. In one aspect of the invention the restriction formation is expedited by the expulsion of a liquid and/or particles into the tissue wall adjacent the working head. In another aspect of the invention the working head includes abrasive means thereon for abrading or otherwise sclerosing the tissue of the vessel, duct or lumen adjacent the working head. A sclerosing liquid or a tissue swelling liquid or adhesive agent can also be introduced by the catheter into contact with the tissue of the vessel, duct or lumen to expedite the restriction forming process.

Abstract: An elongated catheter for pumping blood through at least a portion of a being's vascular system. The catheter is of sufficiently small diameter and flexiblility to enable it to be passed through the vascular system so that the distal end portion of the catheter is located within or adjacent the being' heart. A rotatable pump is located at the distal end of the catheter and is rotated by drive means in the catheter. The distal end portion of the catheter includes an inlet for blood to flow therein and an outlet for blood to flow thereout. The catheter is arranged so that blood is pumped by the catheter's pump through the heart and into the vascular system without requiring any pumping action of the heart.

Abstract: A catheter device for introduction into the body of a being to effect a procedure, e.g., lumen opening, therein. The catheter is an elongated member having a working head at its distal end and is sufficiently flexible and of small diameter to enable it to be located within the body of the being with the working head at the situs of the procedure. The catheter comprises an elongated drive wire extending through the catheter and motion transtator located at the distal end of the catheter. The wire is rotated at a high speed and the transtator translate that rotary motion into high speed reciprocation of the working head. In some embodiments, the motion transtator also causes the working head to be rotated at the same time it is reciprocated. In other embodiments, the working head is only reciprocated. In all cases, the motion of the working head is at a very high speed. The catheter also includes means to provide a fluid therethrough so that when the catheter is used to open a lumen, e.g.

Abstract: A recanalization catheter comprising a very small diameter elongated, flexible tubular member having a distal end at which a tool is mounted for high speed rotation. A flexible drive assembly is located within the tubular member and is connected to the tool. The drive assembly includes a flexible drive shaft mounted within plural spaced bearings to enable the shaft to be rotated at a very high rate of speed from a remotely located motor. The bearings serve to keep the drive shaft centered even as the catheter is bent through a sharp radius of curvature, while also preventing the shaft from going into critical whirl.

Abstract: A flexible, small diameter catheter for effecting various surgical procedures, such as opening a restriction formed of an undesirable material, e.g., atherosclerotic plaque, in a lumen, e.g., an artery, of a living being. The catheter includes a working head having at least one, non-sharp impacting surface arranged to be moved, e.g., rotated, at a high rate of speed by an associated drive means within the catheter. The catheter with the moving working head is brought into engagement to effect the opening of the restriction by dilating the artery and/or removing undesirable material therefrom. The removal of undesirable material results from the impacting surface impacting the material of the restriction repeatedly. A fluid is provided through the catheter to the working head and a portion is thrown radially outward.

Abstract: Methods for effecting various surgical procedures via the use of a flexible, small diameter, catheter. The catheter includes a working head arranged to be moved, e.g., rotated, at a high rate of speed by an associated drive system. In one method the catheter with the moving head is brought into engagement with a restriction caused by an atherosclerotic deposit in an artery to effect the opening of the restriction by the dilation of the artery. In another method the catheter is used to dilate a duct or tube, e.g., a fallopian tube, eustachian tube, bile duct, etc. in a living being. In another application the catheter is used to effect the in situ valvulectomy of a section of vein within a living being. In still another method the catheter is used to disintegrate a stone, such as a kidney or gall stone, in the body of a living being. In yet another method, the catheter is used to stop spasm in a lumen in a living being.

Abstract: A recanalizing catheter comprising a very small diameter, elongated, flexible tubular member having a distal end at which a tool is mounted for high speed rotation. A flexible drive assembly is located within the tubular member to power the tool. In one embodiment the drive assembly comprises a spiral bearing formed as an elongated cylindrical helix having a central longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, and a flexible drive shaft extending through the passageway and freely rotatable therein. The tool is mounted at the end of the flexible drive shaft. In another embodiment the drive assembly comprises a spiral drive shaft formed of at least one elongated cylindrical helix having a central longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, and an elongated flexible bearing shaft extending through the passageway and about which the spiral shaft can be freely rotated. The tool is mounted at the end of the spiral shaft.

Abstract: Methods for effecting various surgical procedures via the use of a flexible, small diameter, catheter. The catheter includes a working head arranged to be moved, e.g., rotated, at a high rate of speed by an associated drive system. In one method the catheter with the moving head is brought into engagement with a restriction caused by an atherosclerotic deposit in an artery to effect the opening of the restriction by the dilation of the artery. In another method the catheter is used to dilate a duct or tube, e.g., a fallopian tube, eustachian tube, bile duct, etc. in a living being. In another application the catheter is used to effect the in situ valvulectomy of a section of vein within a living being. In still another method the catheter is used to disintegrate a stone, such as a kidney or gall stone, in the body of a living being. In yet another method, the catheter is used to stop spasm in a lumen in a living being.

Abstract: Methods for effecting various surgical procedures via the use of a flexible, small diameter, catheter. The catheter includes a working head arranged to be moved, e.g., rotated, at a high rate of speed by an associated drive system. In one method the catheter with the moving head is brought into engagement with a restriction caused by an atherosclerotic deposit in an artery to effect the opening of the restriction by the dilation of the artery. In another method the catheter is used to dilate a duct or tube, e.g., a fallopian tube, eustachian tube, bile duct, etc. in a living being. In another application the catheter is used to effect the in situ valvulectomy of a section of vein within a living being. In still another method the catheter is used to disintegrate a stone, such as a kidney or gall stone, in the body of a living being. In yet another method, the catheter is used to stop spasm in a lumen in a living being.

Abstract: Methods for effecting various surgical procedures via the use of a flexible, small diameter, catheter. The catheter includes a working head arranged to be moved, e.g., rotated, at a high rate of speed by an associated drive system. In one method the cathether with the moving head is brought into engagement with a restriction caused by an atherosclerotic deposit in an artery to effect the opening of the restriction by the dilation of the artery. In another method the catheter is used to dilate a duct or tube, e.g., a fallopian tube, eustachian tube, bile duct, etc. in a living being. In another application the catheter is used to effect the in situ valvulectomy of a section of vein within a living being. In still another method the catheter is used to disintegrate a stone, such as a kidney or gall stone, in the body of a living being. In yet another method, the catheter is used to stop spasm in a lumen in a living being.

Abstract: A slip gripping device for use with an elongated cylindrical member to selectively move that member to any desired longitudinal or rotational position. The device comprises a collet-like member including a plurality of fingers, each of which includes a gripping element at the free end thereof. The collet member is arranged to be grasped and squeezed whereupon its fingers are flexed so that the gripping elements engage the surface of the cylindrical member so that rotary motion imparted to the slip grip device causes the concomitant rotation of the flexible member so that any longitudinal movement of the device causes concomitant longitudinal movement of the member. Release of the collet-like member enables the slip grip device to be slid and rotated with respect to the cylindrial member for positioning anywhere there along.

Abstract: An improved full-spectrum luminaire utilizing a plurality of gas discharge lamps at least one of which produces radiant energy primarily in the near-ultraviolet range and another produces radiant energy primarily in the visible range. The spectral energy distribution characteristics of the lamps are chosen so that their combined radiation simulates natural daylight in both the ultraviolet and visible light ranges. The ultraviolet radiation may be switched off manually or automatically.

Abstract: A light filtering system for improving the spectral output from fluorescent lamps. A filter placed within the lamp envelope between the phosphor coating and the arc discharge path between the lamp electrodes, absorbs mercury arc radiation in the visible range while passing arc radiation in the ultraviolet range to excite the phoshor coating and produce visible light emitted through the outer envelope.