Abstract: An endoscopic fluid applicator including an outer delivery device having a channel extending therethrough between proximal and distal ends that is defined along its length by an inner diameter, and an inner plunger device with a handle at a proximal end and an elongate plunger element extending outwardly from the handle to a distal end that is defined along its length by an outer diameter and is sized and shaped relative to the outer delivery device channel so as to be receivable therein. The elongate plunger element has a length such that, when received within the outer delivery device channel, it extends at least substantially to the distal end of the outer delivery device. Proximal end portions of the outer delivery device and inner plunger form an interference fit with one another substantially only when the elongate plunger element is fully received within the outer delivery device channel.

Abstract: Vessel wound closure systems and method for sealing a puncture wound in a target vessel, such as those puncture wounds that occur from interventional procedures. The vessel wound closure system comprises at least a biocompatible, viscoelastic, self-sealing septum material injected onto the adventitia of the target vessel prior to performance of an interventional procedure. The prior injected septum material remains and seals the puncture wound of the target vessel even after various components associated with accessing the target vessel and the performance of the interventional procedure are removed from the target vessel and the puncture wound.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes of making flowable hemostatic compositions and devices that include the flowable hemostatic composition disposed therein, where a volume of a biocompatible liquid, a volume of a biocompatible gas, and an amount of solid particles of a biocompatible polymer are mixed together to form a substantially homogenous composition including a discontinuous gas phase and the solid particles substantially homogenously dispersed throughout a continuous liquid phase to form a flowable hemostatic composition, and the composition then transferred into a device suitable for applying the flowable hemostatic composition to a site of a body requiring hemostasis under conditions effective to maintain the substantially homogeneous dispersion of the gas phase and the solid particles throughout the liquid phase, wherein said transfer of said substantially homogenous hemostatic composition is conducted at an angle.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a substance intradermally into the skin of a patient including a housing for contacting the surface of the skin and a disposable cartridge to be received in the housing. The cartridge includes an internal reservoir containing a substance to be delivered to the patient, a plurality of micro skin penetrating members and a fluid channel extending between the micro skin penetrating members and the reservoir. The housing includes a bottom wall with a central opening and a cover member. The cartridge is positioned in the housing with the micro skin penetrating members extending through the central opening of the bottom wall and positioned on the surface of the skin of a patient. The cover is closed onto the cartridge to dispense the substance from the cartridge through the micro skin penetrating members and into or through the skin of the patient.

Abstract: A system for permitting remotely located applications to obtain information about vehicle conditions and responsively perform programmatic actions based upon the vehicle conditions. The system can include a vehicle response server and a vehicle response agent. The vehicle response server can manage communications between one or more vehicles and at least one application remotely located from the vehicles. The application can automatically execute at least one context-dependent programmatic action based upon an event occurrence triggered by vehicle sensor input. The vehicle response agent, which resides within the vehicle can receive an activation context that specifies conditions for the event occurrence. The vehicle response agent can then monitor the vehicle for the event occurrence and, when appropriate, wirelessly convey an indication of the event occurrence to the vehicle response server. The indication can result in the automatic execution of the at least one context-dependent programmatic action.

Abstract: A system for communicating between networked applications and vehicles that includes a vehicle response server and a vehicle response agent. The vehicle response server can manage communications between at least one vehicle and at least one application remotely located from the vehicle, wherein the application can provide activation contexts to the vehicle. The vehicle response agent can be disposed in the vehicle. The vehicle response agent can receive the activation contexts and determine event occurrences based in part upon the activation contexts and in part upon a location of the vehicle relative to previously defined geographical boundaries specified by the vehicle response server.

Abstract: A surgical assembly is provided including a surgical passer having a wire portion coupled to a handle, with the wire portion having a free distal end, an outer periphery, and at least one recess therein in a distal end region. The assembly further includes a tube element having a proximal end, a tissue penetrating distal end, and a channel extending therein from an opening at the proximal end and defined by an inner periphery. The channel has at least one projection projecting outwardly into the channel in a distal end region thereof. The outer periphery of the surgical passer is dimensioned relative to the inner periphery of the channel of the tube element so that the surgical passer is positionable within the tube element, and when so positioned, the at least one tube element projection engages the at least one surgical passer recess to removably couple the surgical passer to the tube element.

Abstract: A surgical guide and its use in medical procedures such as to treat female urinary incontinence are provided. The guide preferably includes a stem portion having a proximal end and a distal end and a cross-sectional shape having a recess therein along its length and first and second extension portions extending outwardly from opposites sides of the distal end of the stem portion. Each of said first and second extension portions further include a stationary portion that is fixedly coupled to the stem portion and a movable portion that is movably coupled to the stationary portion. The movable portions are movable relative to the respective stationary portions between a first position wherein the stem portions extends beyond the extension portions by a first distance and a second position wherein the stem portion extends beyond the extension portions by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a substance intradermally into the skin of a patient including a housing for contacting the surface of the skin and a disposable cartridge to be received in the housing. The cartridge includes an internal reservoir containing a substance to be delivered to the patient, a plurality of micro skin penetrating members and a fluid channel extending between the micro skin penetrating members and the reservoir. The housing includes a bottom wall with a central opening and a cover member. The cartridge is positioned in the housing with the micro skin penetrating members extending through the central opening of the bottom wall and positioned on the surface of the skin of a patient. The cover is closed onto the cartridge to dispense the substance from the cartridge through the micro skin penetrating members and into or through the skin of the patient.

Abstract: A hypodermic syringe with a selectively retractable needle includes an elongate barrel having an open proximal end, an open distal end and a hollow bore. The syringe includes an elongate plunger including a hollow outer housing having an open proximal end and an open distal end. The plunger has a hollow inner sleeve defining a cavity therein. The plunger has releasable engagement elements preventing relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner sleeve, the elements allowing the relative axial movement when released and a distal stopper. There is an open cutter mounted at a proximal end of the inner sleeve to cut through the stopper to expose the cavity in the inner sleeve when the engagement elements are released and sufficient distal axial force is applied to the plunger. The syringe has a hub housing with an open proximal end having an inwardly projecting shoulder, a hub with a proximal flange and an axial stem, sized to fit within the hub housing.

Abstract: There is described herein a ligating clip applier which contains: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly connected to the handle assembly and containing a shaft and a pair of jaws. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis which lies in a central horizontal plane. A magazine of clips is stored on one side of the plane. The jaws are positioned so that they are on the opposite side of the plane. This configuration allows the clip to be loaded into the jaws across the plane, resulting in greater visibility of the clips as they are loaded into the jaws. Further, there is provided a jaw closure mechanism operable in connection with the jaws of this device so that the jaws contact the legs of a ligating clip first distally and then proximally. Thereafter the jaws are parallel at least once during closure, and the closure of the clip legs is, indeed, distal and then proximal. This improved procedure insures that in virtually all instances, the angle included between the clip legs at the crown is 0.degree..

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy as well as for controlling the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. In a separately excited electromechanical energy conversion system, total system power losses are minimized by simultaneously controlling the currents flowing in the different windings of the energy conversion device such that these currents are related by an optimizing function. This method and apparatus are applicable to a wide variety of electric motors and generators.