Abstract: An injectable electrode which is manufactured in the body by curing from a liquid phase to a solid phase, and therefore molding to the contours of the bodily structures where it is injected.

Abstract: A fastening device for clamping and fastening tissue together with fasteners formed from an adhesive is disclosed. An embodiment of the adhesive fastening device can clamp a first and a second portion of tissue together between a first and a second jaw, and can place a fluid polymer adhesive into tissue and form it into a polymerized surgical fastener within the tissue. The adhesive fastener can be formed as a polymerized shank or shaft extending through the tissue, and can have one or more heads formed on the shank. The shank can be formed solely from the polymerizable adhesive, or can be formed from another material such as nitinol, titanium, stainless steel, suture, or a plastic. Shanks of other material can be combined with the adhesive. Alternately, an adhesive fastener can be formed extending distally from a distal end of the surgical device. And, an adhesive fastener can be formed around a luminal tissue or within luminal tissue.

Abstract: A multiple use adhesive dispenser facilitates precise, extended dispensing for a surgical procedure by sequentially positioning an ampoule containing a flowable material, such as a polymerizable monomer compound such as a cyanoacrylate adhesive. In one version particularly suited to an open surgical procedure, the ampoules are affixed to a tape substrate that is unreeled from an internal storage reel and transported proximate to an ampoule gripping mechanism with an underlying tape substrate peeled away and internally stored as each ampoule is positioned for dispensing. Actuating an ampoule advancement handle positions the next ampoule and squeezing a movable handle toward a fixed handle effects dispensing. Another version has an elongate shaft that internally augers each ampoule in succession into a pair of spaced jaws that are pinched together by actuating rods to dispense adhesive.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a prescription for laser-ablation corneal treatment or ophthalmic implant includes the steps of receiving a measured correction prescription for a current patient having a classification element associated therewith, the prescription having been measured using wavefront determination. A database of treatment outcomes on a plurality of previously treated patients is accessed, each treated patient outcome having associated therewith at least one classification element and comprising a preoperative wavefront-determined correction prescription and a postoperative visual profile. From the treatment outcomes in the database is calculated an average difference between the preoperative prescription and the postoperative profile for at least some of the previously treated patients having a classification element in common with the current patient.

Abstract: Hydrophilic coatings for implantable ophthalmic lenses are disclosed. The coatings, which are applied to the edge surface of the ophthalmic lens, comprise a hydrophobic (meth)acrylic polymer and a hydrophilic polymer. When hydrated, the coatings reduce or eliminate edge glare.

Abstract: A method for modifying an ocular implant polymer surface by the gamma-irradiation or electron beam irradiation induced polymerization thereon of N-vinylpyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate or a mixture thereof while maintaining the following conditions:(a) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight;(b) total gamma dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and(c) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2500 rads/minute or electron beam irradiation dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 10.sup.8 rads/minute.

Abstract: Improved medical devices and instruments prepared by an improved method of producing hydrophilic, gamma-irradiation or electron beam-irradiation induced polymerized and chemically grafted coatings or plastic surfaces of articles adapted for contacting living tissue,the improvement comprising carrying out the graft polymerization in an aqueous solution under specific combinations of the following conditions:1) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight;2) total gamma or electron beam irradiation dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and3) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2500 rads/min or electron beam-irradiation dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 10.sup.8 rads/min.

Abstract: A portable tire bead breaker utilizes a common jacking apparatus to lever a curved foot member against the bead portion of a tire/rim combination. A top stabilizer keeps the curved foot member in the proper orientation and a bead engaging foot member permits the breaking of difficult to break bead on tires having soft and limber sidewalls.

Abstract: Improved medical devices and instruments prepared by an improved method of producing hydrophilic, gamma irradiation induced polymerized and chemically grafted coatings or plastic surfaces of articles adapted for contacting living tissue, the improvement comprising carrying out the graft polymerization in an aqueous solution under specific combinations of the following conditions:(1) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.5% to about 50%, by weight;(2) total gamma dose in the range of from about 0.01 to less than about 0.50 Mrad;(3) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2500 rads/min; and(4) maintaining the molecular weight of the polymer in solution in the range of from about 250,000 to about 5,000,000.

Abstract: A method for modifying a PMMA surface by the gamma-irradiation induced polymerization thereon of N-vinylpyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate or a mixture thereof while maintaining the following conditions:(a) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.5% to about 50%, by weight;(b) total gamma dose in the range of from about 0.01 to less than about 0.50 Mrad;(c) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2500 rads/minute; and(d) maintaining the molecular weight of the polymer in solution in the range of from about 250,000 to about 5,000,000.The invention also relates to modifying polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polycarbonate and silicon surfaces according to a similar method as well as materials produced by the above methods which are useful as ocular implants.